There is one inescapable law of commerce that exists under the heading " Supply and demand " !
When demand exceeds the capacity of supply - the price goes up !
In the last fortnight Shellharbour hospital's emergency department has closed for two 10 pm-8 am shifts, leaving Wollongong hospital to take the entire load. The reason for this closure was the inability to obtain a doctor to treat emergency patients.
What is frightening is the permission granted to increase the pay rate to attract a locum for temporary service. An offer to pay $ 1450 for a single ten hour shift simply did not get a response.
Applying " the law of commerce " can result in a byproduct - " the law of unintended returns ".
If this sort of hourly rate is dangled in front of salaried doctors, either in government service or in the private sector - there is a huge incentive to resign or quit private practice and become part of the relief locum network.
The same sort of money - or more - can be had for working much shorter hours, giving access to a much more relaxed life style.
Which brings us back to the reason we have this predicament !
If there is a shortage of doctors - why haven't we expanded our medical schools to overcome the problem ?
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