Pay deal sealed for public-private practitioners in QLD

Health Minister Geoff Wilson said the Thursday night agreement included a 2.5 per cent wage increase backdated to January 1, 2010, and made further provisions for Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs) working in regional areas.

VMOs would receive a fuel allowance, based on how many hours they work in the public system, as well as extra allowances for those working in regional centres.

An increase in the private practice allowance provides extra incentives for specialists to become VMOs in the public system.

"More VMOs, particularly in the regions, means we can deliver more health services for Queenslanders sooner and closer to home," Wilson said.

The opposition says the deal, after drawn-out negotiations, shows the government only takes action when an election is in the wind.

Opposition health spokesman Mark McArdle said the outcome was an "outrageous backflip".

"Labor has had plenty of time to come to an agreement and do the right thing by VMOs, but had chosen to draw it out by three and a half long and frustrating years, only acting at the eleventh hour because of a Queensland Health PR crisis," McArdle said.

AMA Queensland VMO spokesman Ross Cartmill welcomed the agreement.

Both parties committed to begin negotiations on the next agreement at least six months before the current deal expires.