Council supports gesture to welcome any new General Practitioners on a permanent basis to Leeton

28 Feb 2020 4:48 PM -

Leeton Shire Council will provide support of up to $5,000 as a welcome gesture to any new general practitioner that relocates to Leeton on a permanent basis and commits to participate on the Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs) roster in Leeton Hospital’s Emergency Department.

Mayor Paul Maytom stated in his Mayoral Minute to Council that there is widespread concern in the community regarding the lack of timely access to General Practitioners and the lack of doctors acting as Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs) in Leeton Hospital’s Emergency Department.

“This gesture is one way that Council can encourage General Practitioners to set up permanently in Leeton. The allocation would help to support new general practitioners with expenses such as such as relocation costs, school fees, rates and charges, rental or motel accommodation and the like.”

During the discussion Cr Tony Ciccia questioned whether the amount being offered was sufficient and Cr Paul Smith suggested a contract might need to be considered to ensure the doctors stayed on for at least a year. In the end Councillors resolved as per the Mayor’s recommendation after he reiterated that the dollar amount was simply a goodwill gesture and would be supported by ensuring the doctor and their family were personally welcomed and shown around the Shire.  

Council also again endorsed its annual participation in the 2020 Bush Bursary/Country Women’s Association (NSW) Scholarship Program as a host Council for two medical students, for a total cost of $3,000.

Leeton Shire Mayor Paul Maytom said that Council has supported the Bush Bursary Program for student doctors for over nine years with the aim of providing students with a valuable experience of medicine and lifestyle in a rural setting in their pre-clinical years.

“Council has provided funding, accommodation, and support in organising the program of a two week stay in Leeton for the students. Feedback from past bursary recipients has reaffirmed that students find their placements useful in understanding specific issues relevant to rural and regional communities.”