Fears for recruiting senior doctors to the Far North Qld #qldpol #keepourdoctors
THERE are fears recruiting senior doctors to the Far North could be even harder if the State Government introduces individual work contracts.
Cairns anaesthetist and Senior Medical Staff Association executive Dr Sean McManus said the Government had given doctors until April 30 to sign the controversial contracts and it had prompted a public rally along the Esplanade tomorrow.
Dr McManus said there were clauses within the contracts stating the Queensland Health director-general could change a contract after itwas signed.
“It’s not a contract, it’s a directive,” he said.
“When you sign something, whether you buy a car or a house or for a job, you want that piece of paper to be binding.
“It’s meaningless because the director-general can change things any time. They are asking us to trust them.”
Another specialist at Cairns Hospital, who did not want to be named for fear of retribution, said there was growing uncertainty among doctors.
“There is a feeling among senior doctors in the hospital that these contracts are unfair and could affect the way we treat patients,” he said.
“The contracts take away our ability to speak up on behalf of patients.”
He said the concern was not about money but about possible unfair dismissal of staff.
“We can be dismissed without any recourse,” he said.
The medico said doctors did not want to work in the regions with individual contracts “hanging over their heads”.
Dr McManus said the Government needed to “come back to the negotiating table and remove those clauses which say the health directive prevails over the contract”.
“We are really worried that doctors will vote with their feet,” Dr McManus said.
“Regional areas will suffer I’ve talked to doctors in Weipa, Thursday Island and Cooktown. Mossman, Innisfail and Atherton doctors are feeling the same way.”
He said some staffers believed Queensland Health would bring in contractors as doctors left for interstate, overseas or the private sector.
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said many public health specialists on contracts were not complaining.
“There are lots of doctors who are not worked up about this at all,” Mr Springborg said.
Source: Cairns Post