OLD LINTON MEDICAL PRACTICE
153 Comur Street, Yass 2582 
Telephone: 02 62263697

Dr Ray Bum
R.F.D., E.D., BE, MR, B.S., LL.B., FACLM
The Productivity Commission
Nature Conservation House
Fax 6240 3399	20 July, 2005

Dear Colleagues,

Health Workforce Study

My short CV

Graduated in Engineering and practiced in that profession for 37 years; 
Studied Medicine in the latter stages of Engineering; 
In General Practice since my internship;
While practicing Medicine did a Law degree, later completed the requirements for a Masters and practiced at the NSW Bar for some 15 years concurrently with medical practice;
Fellowship in the College of Legal Medicine;
Doctorate is on hold while we develop our grazing interests; and now Practicing Medicine in Yass, in rural NSW.

Medical Workforce

There is an acknowledged shortage of medical practitioners. This is simply due to the restrictions on University places and is the result of Government policy.

There is less incentive for the better informed to enter medicine when faced with opportunities in other areas of study. The Doctor-Bashing of the 80s is not forgotten. The financial rewards in medicine have been reduced and skewed away from General Practice.

Conclusion

When considering the Health Workforce in Australia one cannot escape the thought that the health sector, service industries all, are restricted by Governments fearful of demands for better access by the public and of consequent pressure to fund these treatments. Obviously a balance is needed, it is deficient at this time.

Yours sincerely,

R. J. BURN