Doctor dispute reaches fever pitch at Ipswich rally #qldpol #keepourdoctors #smoqld #ipswich
DOZENS of Ipswich doctors joined the protest lines yesterday as their war with the State Government over controversial new work contracts intensified.
They rallied in front of Ipswich Hospital to voice their disapproval at plans to move all senior and visiting medical officers onto individual employment contracts.
Among the protesters was Dr Rob Thomas, an intensive care specialist, anaesthetist and pain medicine specialist at Ipswich Hospital.
Dr Thomas said the contracts allowed changes to be made without written consent, removed unfair dismissal provisions and included unattainable key performance indicators.
He said it also meant doctors could be sent anywhere in their health district, which might be hundreds of kilometres from their families.
If not renegotiated, Dr Thomas said the contracts would see Queensland doctors leave the public health system, which would consequently decrease the quality of health care and medical services across the state.
“I myself have been with Queensland Health for 14 years,” he said. “I’ve dedicated my life to the public health system because I believe people in that system deserve quality care.
“But after observing a draft of the new contract I have already started canvassing private hospitals and received several offers.”
Dr Thomas said other skilled specialists in Queensland’s public health system were ready to do the same.
Speaking at yesterday’s rally was Keep Our Doctors campaign spokesperson Dr Tony Sara.
Dr Sara, who is federal president of the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation, said his organisation had agreed to fight the contracts.
A spokeswoman from the office of the Health Minister said based on evidence from other hospital and health services, once doctors received their contracts they were able to sit down with their employer one-on-one to resolve any matters raised in a reasonable timeframe.
She said it was expected all contracts would be returned to the department to meet the April 30 deadline.
Chief executive of West Moreton Hospital and Health Service Lesley Dwyer said the medical staff who took action yesterday worked with the hospital to ensure the provision of quality patient care was not compromised.
THE ARGUMENT
Doctors say …
The contracts give the State Government unilateral power to vary terms, including hours of work and pay.
No requirement for notification or consultation for roster changes and no mechanism for accrued days off.
No guarantee rostering will be fair and equitable.
Senior Medical Officers can be arbitrarily dismissed and unfair dismissal will no longer apply.
SMOs will no longer have recourse to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission and no other dispute resolution process is provided.
The State Government says …
The framework for perpetual contracts was set after 33 meetings involving 27 different doctors’ representatives from August last year.
Today, doctors can be dismissed with three-month’s notice. Under contracts, the notice period is six months.
Doctors’ rosters can be changed now. Under contracts, changes affecting overnight work will require consultation and four weeks’ notice.
Senior doctors can directly negotiate contracts with their employers, 16 local hospital and health boards with published key performance indicators. This will improve doctors’ options for employment and negotiation.
A committee, including the AMAQ president, will advise the QH Director-General on any variation of contract terms. Currently, DGs can adjust terms and conditions of employment.
Senior doctors can directly negotiate contracts with their employers, 16 local hospital and health boards with published key performance indicators.
Contracts ensure doctors can no longer be transferred anywhere in the state without consultation. Transfers under contracts are limited to within hospital and health services.
Doctors can sue for damages for unfair dismissal where compensation is unlimited (currently limited to six months salary).
Standard fatigue management obligations remain in place before and after contracts.
To determine the impact of the change, each doctor is provided a record of earnings with which they can compare.