Queensland to ‘poach’ WA health professionals

The West Australian health budget is currently being spread thinner than iSnack 2.0 and the change is just as bitter.

All public sectors are due to slash three per cent from their budget for the state government’s efficiency dividend and, despite recent promises and rhetoric – ‘front-line health services’ look unlikely to avoid the chop.

As reported by Angela Dorizas in GovernmentNews.com.au this will lead to  an interstate migration of health professionals. Queensland currently heads the Eastern States pack with lucrative ‘attraction and retention’ packages on the table. Acting Premier and Minister for Health Paul Lucas said Queensland Health would look to attract health specialists from the Perth Hospitals such as RPH and SCGH whose jobs were under threat.

“Many of the staff at the Royal Perth Hospital hold designated clinical positions within highly specialised areas of medicine and healthcare and we recognise the valuable contribution such staff could make in Queensland,” Lucas said.

“Recruitment of such specialised staff continues to remain a challenge not only in Queensland but nationally, and that’s why we are keen to take-up any opportunity to recruit staff to areas where they are needed the most, particularly in our rural and regional hospitals.”

“From time to time, we advertise employment opportunities in Queensland Health in other states,” Lucas said. “This is an excellent opportunity to advertise in WA again.”