Filling the Medical Skills Gap in North Queensland

James Cook University is working with the region’s public and private hospitals and health services and GP clinics to address the shortage of medical specialists in north and west Queensland.

The University runs the Federal Government’s Northern Queensland Regional Training Hub initiative in partnership with health care providers across the region.

“We want to build a pipeline of medical training from students through to specialists to provide a high quality and sustainable medical workforce to meet the needs of northern Queensland,” said the Dean of JCU’s College of Medicine and Dentistry, Professor Richard Murray.

Under the initiative, more doctors will be able to complete the different stages of their training, from undergraduate to specialisation, across rural and regional Queensland.

“The partnership links medical training opportunities across northern Queensland to enable medical trainees to complete as much of their specialist training as possible within the region.

“We identify medical students and medical trainees with an interest in practicing in rural or regional areas, and provide them with support and relevant information at the early stages of their careers,” Professor Murray said.

Mackay is one of the North Queensland regions to benefit from the scheme, with the University and healthcare providers focusing on building the region’s specialist medical training capacity.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service Director of Clinical Training, Dr Stephen Lambert, said the establishment of the training hub was excellent news for the service and the community.

“The benefits for the Mackay HHS are retention of staff and workforce stability, and being able to train specialist doctors to address the health needs that are specific to Mackay.

“If North Queensland can work together to develop localised training pathways it will address the traditional view of junior doctors that you have to go to Brisbane for specialist training.

“Our feedback from junior doctors is that they want a defined career pathway and if more is available in the north, they will stay.”

Dr Pradeesha Hettiarachchi is an Obstetrics and Gynecology registrar at the Mackay Base Hospital.  He fell in love with north Queensland while completing his medical degree through JCU in Townsville and Cairns, before later returning to the north to further his specialist training.

Dr Hettiarachchi believes there are many benefits to training in a regional centre.

“When it comes to registrar training the experience is definitely here.  I’ve done a lot of operating, and we teleconference registrar education days.  I meet my supervisors every day, and they’re always around helping and guiding us.

Dr Hettiarachchi has nothing but praise for those supporting him in his role.

“It’s great having consultants who live close by who are happy to help at the drop of a hat. In a big city hospital it can be a bit daunting to call in your consultant, but here in Mackay they are more like colleagues.

“They’re probably the most supportive consultants I’ve met in all the hospitals I’ve ever worked in.”

The Regional Training Hubs state forum, including members from JCU, UQ and hospital and health services, was held in Mackay in March.  It focused on furthering the success of rural and regional medical training for the benefit of regional Queensland.

ENDS