16 July 2024
ASMIRT Board Member Bernadette Byrne spoke to ABC Radio Hobart on Friday, about medical radiation practitioner shortages in Tasmania. This comes amidst long wait times for patients, with some travelling to the mainland for imaging and treatment.
Bernadette acknowledged the disappointment that Tasmanians can’t always get the health services they need in their own State. The struggle to recruit and retain medical radiation specialists could be partially attributed to the absence of medical radiation science university courses in Tasmania, with students moving to the mainland to study and electing not to return.
“Our Tasmanian high school graduates who are choosing to study these courses are travelling interstate to find their study options. Ultimately, if we could provide that service here and support our students locally to study and train, we would probably see a growth in the number of students we’re able to retain”, she said.
Listen to the full interview via the link below. Bernadette joins host Mel Bush at 1:03.
