Sam Birrell calls for more regional medical staff

By Gabriel Garcia

Feb 3, 2023

Concerned: Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell has raised concerns over the lack of regional healthcare workers.

Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell has raised the alarm regarding the shortage of staff across the regional health and aged care sectors.

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Mr Birrell has called for short term assistance to encourage medical professionals, notably registered nurses, to come to the regions.

“Whether that is some sort of relocation incentive, or wage subsidy, we have to do something to ease the pressure of operators and current staff,” Mr Birrell said.

During the election campaign, the Nationals promised $19.5 million to get a Goulburn Valley clinical health school off the ground in order to train nurses, midwives and allied health workers in Shepparton.

“The Albanese Government scrapped the dedicated regional fund we were going to use to fund the clinical health school and still hasn’t opened up alternative funding streams,” Mr Birrell said.

Mr Birrell said regional aged care operators had been put under more pressure, with requirements to provide 24/7 registered nurse care.

“I supported the implementation of the recommendations from the aged care royal commission but warned at the time that the transition needed to be carefully managed, including exemptions for regional operators who could not recruit the required staff,” he said.

Mr Birrell said the Nationals were still committed to the clinical health school idea and that pressure would continue to be applied to the Federal Government to fund it.