There are fears a healthcare staffing crisis in Alice Springs could have serious ramifications for Indigenous communities, in a situation 'unacceptable for a country as wealthy as Australia.'
abc.net.au/news/indigenous-life-expectancy-gains-risked-by-healthworker-shortage/102065578There are fears a severe shortage of nurses and doctors in Alice Springs could see life expectancy rates worsen among local Aboriginal communities.
Since 1998, life expectancy has increased by more than 10 years for Aboriginal men, and five years for Aboriginal women."If we can't get the workforce ... then we will see improvements … being reversed," he said.Dr Boffa said he had not seen the local primary healthcare sector in such dire straits since the mid-90s.has impacted the region's reputation, driving away a fresh workforce, and that the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed by burning out an already over-worked sector.
The Central Australian Aboriginal Congress is currently down a third of its GP and nursing workforce, with a vacancy rate of 50 per cent among Aboriginal health practitioners and allied health staff.In an unprecedented step, the congress was recently forced to temporarily close one of its Alice Springs clinics.Dr Boffa said staff shortages had forced the congress to transform into an "urgent care system", addressing only the most crucial health needs.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation NT secretary Cath Hatcher said the local hospital was currently down to just 50 per cent of its nursing and midwifery staff.The union is currently negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement with the NT government, but warned if nothing changed, more nurses would flee the territory for states offering better incentives.Natasha Fyles says her government is working to address the healthcare staffing crisis.
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