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Doctors decide to move to outer metropolitan areas

A much needed 57 extra doctors, specialists and registrars have so far been approved to relocate to work in outer suburbs across Australia under the Federal Government's More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas scheme the Minister for Health and Ageing, Kay Patterson, has announced.

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9 May 2003

Doctors decide to move to outer metropolitan areas

A much needed 57 extra doctors, specialists and registrars have so far been approved to relocate to work in outer suburbs across Australia under the Federal Government's More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas scheme the Minister for Health and Ageing, Kay Patterson, announced today.

Senator Patterson said the initiative is an $80 million, four-year strategy announced in the 2002-03 Budget aimed at encouraging doctors in inner-metropolitan areas to move to those outer-metropolitan areas suffering from a shortage of medical staff.

"This program has been designed to improve patient access, in outer-metropolitan areas of high need," Senator Patterson said.

"Divisions of General Practice have suggested a number of ways to further enhance the program. They have expressed the need for more flexible measures to identify high need areas because some locations close to the outer-metropolitan zone are also experiencing doctor shortages.

"I agree this kind of flexibility is important in assisting those communities most in need of doctors and have advised my Department to revise the program guidelines to ensure those in need of medical staff in outer-metropolitan Australian are eligible for assistance," Senator Patterson said.

The Minister said areas which will benefit immediately from this new approach include Ipswich and Griffin-Mango Hill in Brisbane, the Blue Mountains district of Sydney, the Mornington Peninsula and Werribee areas in Melbourne and Seaford in Adelaide.

"My Department will be working closely with Divisions of General Practice to identify other districts which may require additional medical support while a number of areas in Brisbane, such as Kallangur in the north, will be examined as a matter of urgency.

"As announced in March, doctors are now able to apply for relocation grants of up to $30,000 to establish a new practice, or up to $20,000 to join an existing practice in an outer-metropolitan area. It is incentives such as these that I hope will further encourage enthusiastic doctors and specialists to meet the growing health needs of those areas of Australia that are seeking help," Senator Patterson said.

Further information on the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Measure is available by ringing the Department of health and Ageing's Outer Metropolitan Hotline 1800 727 899 or by visiting the Outer Metropolitan Web-site at www.health.gov.au/workforce. Maps showing the outer metropolitan zone and the new areas are also available on the website.

Media inquiries, contact Randal Markey, Media Adviser, Senator Patterson's office, 02 6277 7220.