The University of Queensland has welcomed the Federal Government's $117 million funding commitment to a national rural health education and training network.
UQ's School of Medicine has been chosen to run the new rural clinical school based in Rockhampton and Toowoomba.
Federal Health Minister Dr Michael Wooldridge recently announced the locations for nine new rural clinical schools and two new University Departments of Rural Health.
Executive Dean for the Faculty of Health Sciences Professor Peter Brooks said UQ was keen to stop the hemorrhage of doctors from rural and remote areas and believed the rural clinical schools would create a multitude of benefits for communities, health professionals and medical students.
Professor Brooks said the initiative would strengthen the rural focus in medical training by enabling students to complete more of their clinical training in rural and remote areas.
"Ultimately this means doctors are going to be more informed about rural issues and will be able to provide patients with better services," Professor Brooks said.
"It is envisaged that instead of five students, UQ could have 16 to 20 third-year students at both Rockhampton and Toowoomba, carrying out all five rural rotations together with most of the fourth-year students," Professor Brooks said.
Professor Brooks said the proposed rural clinical schools would oversee the program, with its implementation taking place possibly as early as next year.
"The initial function of the proposed rural clinical school would be to take over the administration and funding of the rural rotation scheme and to further expand the program," he said.
Medical Advisor to the Rockhampton Rural Health Training Unit Dr John Dirks, said UQ has always maintained a commitment to rural and remote medicine.
"Since 1999, all UQ third-year medical students do an eight week rural rotation at places as varied as Longreach, Bundaberg, Gympie and Springsure ? the experiences gained by the students have been assessed as highly valuable to their medical education," Dr Birks said.
Coordinator for the Toowoomba node of the clinical school, Dr Jeff Thomsett, said one of the main benefits with the rural clinical schools would be the increased likelihood that students will return to rural areas when they become doctors, thus improving medical recruitment of general practitioners, specialists and academic specialist staff.
Professor Brooks said "it is clear that a significant University of Queensland presence will have a marked affect on medical staffing and resources in these areas".
The Department of Health and Aged Care will work with UQ's School of Medicine and a committee of doctors, health professionals and community leaders to ensure strong local involvement in developing the rural clinical schools, Dr Birks said.
Media: For further information please contact Professor Peter Brooks (07 3365 5106), Dr John Birks (07 4920 6514), Dr Jeff Thomsett (0412 790 119) or Joanne van Zeeland at UQ Communications (07 3365 9723 or communications@mailbox.uq.edu.au)
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