The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has called on all parties in Tasmania to commit to addressing the severe workforce shortages that are impacting some of the state’s most vulnerable populations.

Tasmania has the highest proportion of both elderly people ^[1] and people with disability ^[2] out of all Australian states and territories.

Physicians say that healthcare workforce shortages are contributing to inequitable health outcomes for the state’s priority population groups including people living in rural and regional communities, elderly Tasmanians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tasmanians, and Tasmanians with disabilities.

The RACP is calling on all parties to commit to policies that won’t just attract more healthcare workers to the state, but also retain healthcare workers currently working in Tasmania.

RACP President, Dr Jacqueline Small says it is vital for parties across the political spectrum to prioritise reforms that help support and grow the state’s healthcare workforce.

“Physicians and patients alike know that Tasmania is facing a growing healthcare workforce shortage that must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

“With a significant rural population, the highest proportion of elderly people and people living with a disability in Australia, finding solutions to workforce shortages is a critical priority for Tasmania.

“As access to specialist healthcare for patients becomes more challenging, the effects are being felt most strongly by Tasmanians from priority groups. This further feeds into existing health inequities.

“It is imperative that whoever wins government at the election goes on to make reforms to address healthcare workforce shortages and improve access to specialist medical care, especially for priority cohorts,” Dr Small said.

In its election statement, the RACP is calling on the incoming Tasmanian Government to:

1)    Increase career pathways for Career Medical Officers and Junior Medical Officers through attractive training and career opportunities, especially for physicians with regional and rural experience.

2)    Work with us in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government to develop rural specialist medical training hubs across the state.

3)    Track, map, and research the effects of increased rural medical scholarships on long-term specialist workforce distribution.

4)    Fund programs that increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physicians across the state and facilitate the integration of specialist services into Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

5)    Support strategies for flexible training, safe work hours, parental leave and other support mechanisms for trainees.

6)    Urgently implement and appropriately fund mental health initiatives and practical supports for healthcare workers.

7)    Adequately fund additional video technology and telehealth packages and ensure telephone-based specialist consultations are available, particularly for rural, regional and remote patients as well as priority communities.

8)    Fund videoconferencing technology packages to build patient capacity and promote equitable access to telehealth.

RACP’s Tasmanian election statement can be viewed using this link.

[1] Australian Government – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Age at death

[2] ABS - Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings