Doctors in South Australia’s mid-north have raised concerns about “horrible” working conditions and allege there has been an exodus of clinicians because of mismanagement.
Key points:
- Regional SA doctors have told local health management of “horrible” working conditions
- They wrote to health bosses and held a meeting last year
- A local MP is demanding a meeting with the Health Minister
A group of eight Port Pirie doctors, working for the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (LHN), demanded a meeting late last year to discuss their concerns with LHN management.
Seven of them put their name to a letter sent to the network’s chief executive, Roger Kirchner, and chairman John Voumard.
The letter alleged some staff were engaged in bullying, inappropriate interference, disparaging language and racism, and “dehumanising junior doctors”.
Two days after sending the letter, the doctors met with medical director Viney Joshi, Mr Kirchner and Mr Voumard to discuss their concerns, according to minutes of the meeting obtained by the ABC.
The ABC understands three specialists — a rheumatologist, a plastic surgeon, and an orthopaedic surgeon — resigned in the past 12 months.
ABC News: Shari Hams
)The notes reveal doctors told their bosses there was a “very destructive culture” within the LHN.
The ABC understands those complaints, and similar allegations around the same time, prompted the LHN to commission an independent investigation in November last year.
In a statement, an LHN spokeswoman said the organisation could not comment on ongoing investigations.
“We take all allegations and complaints seriously, and will take appropriate action when and where issues are identified,” the spokeswoman said.
MP says complaints ‘disturbing’
The Member for Frome, Geoff Brock, said he had only been made aware of the letter in the past week and wanted to organise a meeting with Health Minister Stephen Wade.
ABC News: Matthew Doran
)“I want this sorted out, and I want the issue being more transparent and being discussed openly.
“Our doctors are under extreme pressure and the last thing we need to have is our doctors losing confidence in the medical profession.”
Mr Wade has been contacted for comment.
Ongoing doctor shortage
The doctors’ complaints have emerged during a severe and worsening shortage of regional doctors.
Emergency departments in the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network area have been left without doctors, or forced to close temporarily on several recent occasions.
ABC News: Declan Gooch
)The hospital at Balaklava had no doctor on site at all for two days earlier in the year, while the GP clinic at Peterborough shut down in June.
It has since reopened and is staffed completely by locums, but sourcing locums is also becoming more difficult.
Mr Brock said he also wanted to discuss the shortage with the Health Minister.
“I’ll be having an honest and frank discussion with the Minister and I’m getting frustrated.”
