Three agency nurses have been secured for Jerilderie as the local health district and council work to overcome recruitment challenges exacerbated by the regional housing crisis.
The number of nursing vacancies forced Murrumbidgee Local Health District to temporarily reduce some services at its Jerilderie Multi Purpose Service from Monday last week.
As the new nurses are on short term contracts only, staffing levels are still not high enough to lift the reduction.
“Attracting and retaining healthcare staff to rural and regional areas is a long-standing, fundamental problem faced by all state and territory health systems across Australia,” MLHD said.
“Recruitment of experienced and skilled staff to strengthen the workforce remains an ongoing key priority for the district and these recruitment efforts are continuing through a range of social media and advertising campaigns in Australia and abroad.
“MLHD has established a Critical Vacancy Taskforce, which is working on short and medium term solutions to boost workforce capacity, including incentives to attract staff such as relocation payments, interim accommodation, and education and career pathways.
“Murrumbidgee Local Health District is currently working with Murrumbidgee Council on the provision of additional key worker accommodation in Jerilderie.”
Murrumbidgee Council Mayor Ruth McRae told the Southern Riverina News the housing crisis has presented its own challenges in securing healthcare workers locally.
“Housing is at a critical shortage level nationally,” she said.
“I think trying to find rental accommodation anywhere in Australia is a challenge at the moment.”
Cr McRae, who is also the chair of the Jerilderie Local Health Advisory Council (LHAC), said council has been working closely with MLHD to try and access available accommodation within towns.
“I knew the council had a house that was vacant temporarily, and I said was it possible that we could perhaps engage in a deal with Murrimbidgee Local Health District so that it could be available if they were able to attract staff?
“Because when you try to attract agency staff or any sort of permanent staff, they need to know; A, is there housing available? And B, is it a part of an incentivized package?”
Since then Cr McRae said a commercial arrangement for a lease has been put in place that allows MLHD to use the property for housing agency staff.
“To the best of my knowledge, an agency RN (registered nurse) started work in Jerilderie (last week) and there are two starting (this) week,” she said.
“So these nurses will be able to go in to this rented accommodation.
“This is really encouraging news because it gives the people that are working in our health service all the time, the ability to catch their breath and share the load.”
Cr McRae added that these nurses are on short-term contracts at the moment.
“We very much appreciate the contract staff that are coming in, the agency staff,” she said.
“But our aim, along with everybody else’s, is to get permanent staff in so that it gives stability to the health service.”
Cr McRae said she was aware MLHD is doing “everything within their power to attract staff across all realms”, including offering incentives “above and beyond” to encourage doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals further out west.
“When people look to take up a position, particularly in health or education or the police or anything like that, it’s about the package these days – it’s just not about the job,” she said.
“So, in that regard, retaining your health service, retaining your doctor, retaining your pharmacy, all those sorts of things are vital when you’re trying to attract people to come to live in your town.”
“We endeavour to do the best we can to make sure that we have a functioning medical service.
“Therefore, to that end, we’re helping out when our multi purpose service here is finding it difficult to attract staff, which they have been for a long period of time.”
The temporary closure is to be reviewed by MLHD monthly.
Until services are restored, patients from Jerilderie requiring urgent emergency care will be diverted to Finley and are asked to call 000 for an ambulance.
If an illness or injury is not life-threatening, residents are encouraged to visit their GP or call Healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222.