WORLD-RENOWNED anaesthetist Keith Greenland has resigned from the RBWH over the Newman Government contracts

WORLD-RENOWNED anaesthetist Keith Greenland has resigned from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital over the Newman Government contracts dispute. #qldpol #smoqld #keepourdoctors

Dr Greenland’s resignation is the latest blow to the Government trying to sell their controversial contracts to the state’s 3500 senior public ­hospital medical specialists.

Dr Greenland was reluctant to comment on his resignation yesterday but confirmed the Government’s handling of the contracts issue was at the core of his decision.

“There must be a better way,” Dr Greenland said.

RBWH Colleagues paid tribute ­yesterday to Dr Greenland, an examiner with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.

Dr Greenland’s loss to Queensland Health comes as doctors’ unions prepare to launch an advertising campaign to explain the profession’s position.

Doctors have launched a grassroots letterbox campaign to advise the public of their concerns about the contracts.

One medical specialist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital personally delivered 300 of the flyers in and around Stones Corner, on Brisbane’s southside.

The flyer outlines fears about patient care if the crisis cannot be resolved and medical specialists leave the public system.

Despite the ongoing unrest, Health Minister Lawrence Springborg has rejected calls for a moratorium on the rollout of contracts. Doctors must sign by April 30 or risk losing up to 30 per cent of their pay.

More medical specialists are threatening to resign from the public system if the contracts crisis is not resolved. Mr Springborg said while he did not expect many doctors to leave, contingency plans were in place if they did.