The North West Hospital and Health Service said there had been an increased number of applicants for nursing positions at the Julia Creek MPHS.
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The hospital has been downgraded to level 1 since before Christmas due to COVID-related issues finding staff but the latest update from NWHHS chair Paul Woodhouse suggests the situation is improving as restrictions ease and a new director of nursing appointed in April.
"With interest increasing, travel freeing up and vaccinations rolling out, we expect that this trend should continue across the NWHHS and elsewhere," Mr Woodhouse said.
"Interviews for positions are continuing to ensure applicants have the right qualifications for the roles advertised, and to build more permanency under the Director of Nursing and the model for Julia Creek".
Mr Woodhouse said they wanted to sustain this model properly, and so the facility won't return to its original level of service if there is any danger of it going through an unstable rotation of openings and closures.
"Nevertheless, there is now room for some optimism I believe and all due thanks and credit to the DON and staff at Julia Creek MPHS, as well as senior NWHHS staff who have been working through not only this problem for Julia Creek but other facilities across the region since late last year when support for staff and access to staff became a bigger issue and affected our operations," he said.
"Thanks also to Mayor Philip Curr, Deputy Mayor Janene Fegan and the Council, who have been very proactive in promoting this problem on behalf of the community".
Mr Woodhouse said they were not having the same success with Medical services.
"There are some multi party discussions going on today around Medical with the NWHHS Chief Executive Dr Murphy and others, the results of which won't not be known before (this week)," he said.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
