Goulburn and surrounding communities are set to benefit from enhanced access to specialist medical services, with the appointment of 19 senior medical professionals at Goulburn Base Hospital.
The incoming doctors bring experience across a broad range of specialties including emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, general medicine, rehabilitation medicine, orthopaedic surgery and stroke medicine.
These appointments mark a major milestone in strengthening specialist services across the region and improving continuity of care, ensuring patients continue to access high quality services close to home.
This significant recruitment boost will also strengthen teaching, education and supervision for junior doctors, supporting the continued development of Goulburn Base Hospital’s medical workforce and future specialist training opportunities.
This recruitment builds on the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to rebuild essential services in the regions by hiring more staff. The Coalition failed to invest in the health workforce, refusing to hire more staff and subjecting workers to an oppressive wages cap.
The Minns Government is investing in initiatives to ensure regional communities have the health workers they need, including:
- The NSW Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme, which provides incentives of up to $20,000 for the hardest to fill and critically vacant positions in rural and regional NSW.
- $200.1 million investment in 2024-25 to deliver more than 20 key health worker accommodation projects across regional and remote areas of NSW.
- Expanded training pathways, such as the Rural Generalist Single Employer Pathway, which has assisted 74 doctors to train as rural generalists across NSW.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
“Recruiting and retaining experienced clinicians is one of our highest priorities for regional healthcare.
“These 19 appointments will strengthen specialist services at Goulburn Base Hospital and help ensure local communities can continue to access high-quality care closer to home.
“Building a stable, permanent workforce benefits patients, supports our existing staff and helps create a stronger health service for the future.”
Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Goulburn Bob Nanva:
“This is another positive milestone towards ensuring that the people of Goulburn are being provided with top-quality care at Goulburn Base Hospital.
“More senior doctors will help alleviate pressure on staff and additionally improve the accessibility of specialist services at the local level.”
Quotes attributable to Acting CE, SNSWLHD, Joe McDonald:
“This recruitment milestone reflects the commitment of the medical leadership, clinical teams and recruitment staff to strengthen specialist services at Goulburn Base Hospital.
“Welcoming more senior medical officers means greater continuity of care for our community, stronger support for the junior medical workforce and improved opportunities to grow specialist services into the future.”
Quotes attributable to Director of Medical Services, Goulburn Base Hospital, Dr Pradeep Mishra:
“None of this is down to one person. The medical heads of departments and credentialing teams have been quietly working together for months to strengthen our workforce.
“While there is more work to do, these appointments represent an important step towards building a stable senior medical workforce and making Goulburn a place where clinicians choose to build their careers.”
