Local doctors may no longer need a COVID-19 vaccination to practise thanks to an exemption to the vaccine mandate.
Federal Member for Dawson, George Christensen, announced a workforce shortage declaration for Mackay’s healthcare earlier this week which could result in the exemption.
Enforced in December last year by the State Government, the vaccine mandate ruled that all healthcare workers, across public and private sectors, must be vaccinated.
Mr Christensen stated that this led to a number of doctors losing their jobs at private medical practices, leaving Mackay patients waiting weeks to see a doctor.
“The mandate rules, however, contained an exemption, allowing a private practice to employ an unvaccinated doctor if there was a workforce shortage, personal protection equipment was worn and a negative rapid antigen test was recorded before work each day,” he said.
“While I vehemently disagreed with the mandate at the time, and still do, this measure by the Federal Government is a significant proof point for local surgeries to show they are suffering from a workforce shortage.
“With this proof, they may be able to hire or re-hire GPs who had to leave their job because of the vaccine mandate.”
“Medical practices in Mackay can now go to the Chief Health Officer and tell them about the city’s designation as an area of healthcare workforce shortage, describe their particular situation, and set out a solution and protocols to have medical professionals return to work for the next three months.
“The exemption can be granted for three months but there is scope for additional time to be signed off by the Chief Health Officer,” he said.
Mackay physiotherapist, Kimberley Cahill, has noticed the workforce shortage and would welcome the exemption.
“We are having to close down non-essential services including outpatient appointments, elective surgeries (some have been on a wait list for over a year) to meet unstaffed areas and redeployment services due to other areas being understaffed,” Ms Cahill stated.
“I would say it’s like a food chain - if one link is broken it affects so many other areas,” she added.
“Although with being unvaccinated there’s a higher risk of symptoms, we are so understaffed, exhausted, burnt out, that it would really benefit the amount of double shifts and overtime worked by all streams of healthcare.
“Pre-Covid and at the best of times the healthcare system is under pump and strained so adding a pandemic on top is crazy.
“We are all in PPE, so why not let them work?” she concluded.
Story by Sam Gillespie
Dr Nicole Higgins (Health on Central), Member for Dawson George Christensen and Dr Graeme Cumming (Shakespeare Medical Centre) have recently spoken out about a shortage of doctors in Mackay.
Image supplied: George Christensen MP
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
