Doctors’ contracts dispute- AMA urges doctors to consider signing as changes made #qldpol #smoqld #keepourdoctors
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says changes to the Queensland Government’s controversial new contracts for doctors should address some major concerns.
Doctors have been threatening to quit the state’s public hospital system en masse over the proposed contracts.
The State Government says sticking points regarding rosters and unfair dismissal have been addressed in an addendum that will be rolled into the agreements.
It has also agreed to remove says any references to “profitability” before a meeting with doctors on Wednesday night.
AMA president Steve Hambleton says he is confident the changes will allay some fears.
Dr Hambleton says he is now urging senior medical officers to consider signing up.
“Our concerns were that there were clauses in the contracts that may’ve allowed financial matters to overrule clinical matters and that was the reason doctors became so upset,” he said.
“Now if we get the intent of that addendum and if we can get the intent transferred into the contract, that is a substantial change in what was put before doctors.”
“The big concern was that the addendum, which looked like it was going to fix those issues, was outside – how could you weld it together? How could you guarantee it was delivered?
“The lawyers were saying if it was in the contract, that builds strength in those words.”
Source: ABC News