Hunter New England Health (HNEH) will appoint an independent researcher to investigate issues affecting the retention of specialists at Armidale Hospital.
Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay welcomed the initiative, announced at the latest New England Health Alliance meeting in Armidale.
Over the last two years, the Hospital has lost nine specialists, almost half of them physicians.
“The issue outlined at the meeting was that exit interviews with specialists leaving the hospital are confidential and the information cannot be publicly revealed or discussed,” Mr Torbay said.
“We heard that many local doctors understand the issues at stake and would be more than willing to share their views.
“The good news is that there has been an increasing interest from specialists to take up positions in regional centres. Our challenge is not only to recruit them but to retain them, which is much more effective than filling the gaps with expensive locums whose costs eat up the health budget.”
The report will be delivered to HNEH and brought to the next meeting of the Alliance in the new year.
