Almost a fifth of WA’s medical specialists are due to reach retirement age in the next 10 years, while many senior doctors are working less hours in the public system, according to a report.
The worrying figures are in the WA Health Workforce Strategy 2024, which outlines a plan between now and 2034 to address the workforce challenges unique to WA.
It is the first overall workforce strategy since the introduction of the Health Services Act 2016 and the devolving of governance to various health service providers.
The report found that as of June 30 last year, WA’s medical workforce comprised 5,790 full-time equivalent hours delivered by 6,651 doctors, as well as 3,716 FTE junior medical officers –including interns, resident medical officers and registrars.
Of significant concern were the findings that 19% of specialists would be reaching retirement age in the next 10 years, as well as the trend by many senior doctors to divide their work hours across the public and private sectors.
WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said it was important to build and retain a health workforce that would have the capacity and capability to provide quality care and support across the State.
“The past five years have seen significant changes in the health landscape… the global shortage of health workers continues to impact the WA health system,” she said.
“Recruitment and retention challenges, coinciding with an ageing health workforce, require collective action on a national and state level to ensure a sufficient, supported and sustainable health workforce.”
Ms Sanderson said succession planning was essential to prevent the loss of critical knowledge and skills.
Even though the State Government is offering relocation incentives to attract qualified health professionals to work for WA Health, she said the central focus was to support and retain the current workforce.
The strategy is structured around six priorities – modelling, attraction, retention, leadership, digitalisation and partnerships. The work will be spread over 10 years, with the last phase finishing in June 2034.