$40k for 10 days’ work: Doctors offered huge pay to fill in at Geraldton Hospital

“Whereas I’m positive the cash incentive goes a great distance in getting folks to go and work in Geraldton, why not repair these different extra deep-rooted difficulty and construct a sustainable nation well being system that doesn’t must revert to outrageous locum funds.”

There are a number of ads for locum docs in Geraldton, which on common differ from $2000 to $3500 per day.

Dr Duncan Smith additionally mentioned there have been main employees shortages at different regional WA hospitals together with Broome, Albany and Kalgoorlie.

An annual report launched by WACHS final 12 months states: “Whereas the restrictions to enter WA have doubtless been important to conserving nation WA freed from COVID-19, it has resulted in important impacts on our workforce.”

“We have now many employees who stay outdoors WA and the restrictions on them coming into the state to work means we’ve had an ongoing problem to keep up our workforce,” the report mentioned.

“With out an choice to journey out of the state for a lot of the 12 months, all of our regional cities and cities have additionally seen seasonal inhabitants will increase, translating into extra folks needing the providers of our hospitals.”

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The report mentioned the mix of decreased workforce and elevated exercise positioned “unprecedented stress on our employees, with many having to work extra hours, help native groups by working extra time, delaying vacation plans and spending extra time away from their households.”

“These workforce difficulties usually are not anticipated to be relieved within the short-medium time period, and we proceed to search for methods to help our employees and improve alternatives to supply employees the place they’re wanted.”

Dr Duncan-Smith mentioned he was involved that the shortages would proceed when the borders opened, and that the well being system would wrestle, it doesn’t matter what pay was on supply.

WA Well being was contacted for remark.

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