Government hurting patients by refusing to negotiate with public hospital doctors

AMA Tasmania President Stuart Day has made a plea to the Minister for Health Michael Ferguson to end the Government’s dispute with Tasmania’s public hospitals doctors and instead put patients first.
Doctors at the Royal Hobart Hospital and Launceston General Hospital met last night to discuss the total lack of progress in enterprise bargaining negotiations for improved conditions and safe working hours.
Dr Day said Tasmanian doctors are simply seeking to align their conditions and entitlements with doctors in other Australian state and territories.
“Tasmanian doctors are the lowest paid and endure some of the worst work conditions in Australia, making it an unattractive option for many young doctors, both to move here or stay here for work,” said Dr Day.
“Tasmania needs to attract the best and the brightest doctors to work in our state, as the community deserve nothing less.
“The Government is failing miserably to attract doctors. The blowout of locum costs for the North and North West hospitals is evidence of this.
Dr Day said the Government’s lack of respect for public hospitals and those who choose to work in them, is adversely affecting doctors’ confidence in the system, patient safety, healthcare quality, and the recruitment and retention of the best doctors to Tasmania.
“Despite our goodwill, this is just another example of doctors’ concerns being ignored by hospital management,” he said.
“This is a situation that cannot continue and the Tasmanian Health Service is in jeopardy.
“We want to focus on care for our patients, rather than continually fighting for good decision making by management and bureaucrats. Doctors are at breaking point.
“Rather than give up and cross over to private, public hospital doctors resolved to implement Professional Action in support of our patients and access to world-class public healthcare.
“This action is aimed at ensuring the hospital will operate as it should, with quality patient care led by highly skilled medical practitioners who are supported and work under safe conditions.”
Another meeting is scheduled for early-May this year to consider further professional actions if satisfactory progress is not made.
Tasmania’s public hospital doctors put patient safety first, delivering world-class care to Tasmanians.
AMA Tasmania implores the Minister for Health to also put patient safety first and come to the table.+
AMA Tasmania President Stuart Day