Qld: AMAQ warns of surgeons crisis

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Qld: AMAQ warns of surgeons crisis

BRISBANE, Aug 26 AAP - Country areas of Queensland could be left without surgeons ifgovernments did not address the medical indemnity crisis, a doctors' lobby group saidtoday.

The decentralised nature of the state meant that some rural and regional areas couldbe left without surgeons after many decided to retire in as little as five years' time,said Dr Russell Stitz, president of the Australian Medical Association of Queensland.

Dr Stitz, who is also a council member of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons,said a survey by the college of Australian members showed rising medical insurance premiumscould force many out of medicine.

Of the 1,100 who replied to the survey, 60 per cent of surgeons were considering retirement.

This would be below replacement level, with 30 per cent of trainees indicating theycould abandon medical practice altogether.

State government measures had gone some way to addressing the medical indemnity problemand limiting claims, Dr Stitz said.

In June, the federal government also guaranteed that doctors insured with the collapsedUnited Medical Protection (UMP) would have temporary malpractice cover until the end of2002, and the federal government would work with doctors and the states to find a permanentsolution.

But Dr Stitz said that UMP last month announced a 53 per cent increase in insurancepremiums and many doctors were now becoming concerned that long-term measures would notbe in place before the end of the year.

Rural and regional areas would be hard hit as most already suffered from a shortageof doctors and specialists, particularly neurosurgeons, obstetricians, gynaecologists,plastic surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons, Dr Stitz said.

"It's worrying for surgery in Australia, but it's particularly worrying for Queenslandwhich is a decentralised state," Dr Stitz said.

"It basically gives a very clear message that surgeons do not see themselves continuingon into their dotage if the spiralling costs of medical indemnity are not brought undercontrol."

AAP rad/sc/tnf/br

KEYWORD: INDEMNITY QLD