17 November 2011
Health Minister Badly Advised Over Public Hospital Doctor Numbers
“Health Minister Tony Ryall has been badly advised over his claim that there are 800 extra public hospital doctors since
he became health minister three years ago,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried
Medical Specialists, today.
“Mr Ryall repeated his claim to disbelieving senior doctors at their national conference today.”
“Senior doctors simply don’t know where these alleged doctors are. How can we have 800 extra hospital doctors that those
working at the frontline of health care can’t see? How can we have 800 extra hospital doctors when senior doctors at the
frontline are being overstretched covering up for the effects of doctor shortages?”
“Mr Ryall is relying on data provided by health bureaucrats that previously have been characterised by unreliability and
inaccuracy in the past.”
“Mr Ryall’s claim based on advice by health bureaucrats simply does not compute with the practical experience of senior
doctors. You would have thought that if there were so many more doctors someone at the frontline would have noticed. Are
these doctors ghosts or cardboard cut-outs?”
“When he was in opposition Mr Ryall accepted the advice of senior doctors on workforce shortages. He should continue
this in government,” concluded Mr Powell.
ENDS