Answers to Questions

Rural Health Workforce

144 The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (6 June 2019).

1. What specific steps has the minister taken to attract more doctors to country areas?

2. Has the minister lobbied the federal government to declare country South Australia an area of need?

3. Has the minister requested additional provider numbers for Australian trained or suitably qualified experienced overseas trained doctors to practice in country areas?

4. Is the minister aware of any country areas that are utilising locum services to meet minimum standards?

5. What is the range between most expensive and the cheapest rate per hour/day for locum services utilised in South Australia?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing): I have been advised:

1. The state government has committed $20 million to a four-year Rural Health Workforce Strategy.

A key priority of the Rural Medical Workforce Plan is the expansion of medical training based in rural South Australia. Training positions are already being expanded, with numbers of rural medical interns more than doubling from five to 12 in 2019.

In addition to work on the training pathway, it is acknowledged that there are currently a number of areas in rural South Australia where there are challenges recruiting doctors. The state government contracts the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency to provide specialised rural doctor recruitment and the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency is currently running a priority recruitment campaign for these areas.

The provision of general practice services in rural South Australia is the responsibility of the federal government, rather than the state government. However, given the close relationship between general practice and hospital services in rural South Australia, the state government works collaboratively with the federal government on this issue.

2. There are two different designations required for overseas doctors to be able to be employed in South Australia and/or access a Medicare provider number. These are Area of Need assessment and District of Workforce Shortage assessment. SA Health determines the Area of Need assessments, and therefore I have not lobbied the federal government for country South Australia to be determined an area of need.

3. As the vast majority of rural South Australia has been nominated a District of Workforce Shortage by the commonwealth government, provider numbers are available to suitably qualified overseas trained doctors. There is also no restriction on provider numbers for Australian trained medical graduates.

4. Locums are used in rural South Australia for a variety of purposes, including to support private general practices, private hospitals and health services as well as SA Health public hospitals.

5. The current standard rate for medical locum services provided by locum agencies is approximately $2,000 to $2,500 per day.