Boost for clinical placements
The Australian Nursing Federation welcomes the federal government announcement of funding for regional hospitals.
ANF federal secretary Lee Thomas said nurses and midwives were pleased the funding would support clinical training capacity in regional hospitals.
"We know that regional Australia continues to experience limited access to health services, including an inability or difficulty in recruiting nurses," she said. "If you provide clinical placement opportunities for nurses in regional hospitals then experience tells us that they are more likely to return to that community once they are registered.
"Local student nurses - particularly where there is a regional university - will also have the opportunity to do their clinical placement in their home town rather than travelling to metro areas where there is a shortage of available openings."
Ms Thomas said this was also about ensuring patients didn't have to travel long distances to get care.
"Forcing people to travel great distances will often result in them delaying treatment and only seeking help once their condition has deteriorated," she said.
Local access to nurses and local clinical training of nurses in regional communities will increase access to services, ultimately improving health outcomes, she said.
The ANF would also like to see more funding for graduate placements in regional and remote hospitals to encourage graduates to relocate or return to work in their communities, Ms Thomas said.
Source:
Australian Nursing Federation