Fed: More anaesthetists give rural life a go, but on the coast

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2000
Fed: More anaesthetists give rural life a go, but on the coast

BRISBANE, April 12 AAP - A drive to place anaesthetists in rural areas with shortages
had attracted almost 100 specialists Australia-wide, the recruitment team said today.

However, Rural Anaesthetic Recruitment Service (RARS) chairman Dr Daryl Catt said not
surprisingly the popular vacancies had been in coastal areas of Queensland.

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists is using a federal government
grant to try to lift coverage in rural areas, where 32 per cent of Australians are serviced
by only 14 per cent of anaesthetists.

Dr Catt said the RARS was filling locum vacancies in small-town hospitals and practices
where it was difficult for anaesthetic staff to get away for holidays or to advance their
skills.

The program was also seeking full-time and part-time anaesthetists for salaried positions
in hospitals and permanent private practice positions.

So far 96 anaesthetists from metropolitan areas and New Zealand had registered as potential
recruits.

RARS was stepping up promotion with an information web-site (http://www.medeserv.com.au/anzca/open/c_news/rural_interest.htm)
and a request to 250 hospitals to promote the scheme.

So far six anaesthetists have been "married" to locum jobs.

Half the positions currently available, and half of those already filled, were in regional
and coastal Queensland, Dr Catt said.

The next most popular area was regional Victoria, followed by South Australia, New
South Wales and the Northern Territory.

Dr Catt said anaesthetists surveyed by RARS had cited a variety of reasons for seeking
rural work including lifestyle, "feeling more useful in rural areas", gaining extra experience
outside normal daily practice and "change of scenery".

AAP rr/sc/sk

KEYWORD: ANAESTHETISTS

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