HEALTH Minister Lawrence Springborg has thanked medicos for bringing to an end the long-running dispute over doctors’ government contracts.
A significant number of doctors are believed to have now signed up to the revised agreements, meeting the May 31 deadline.
Mr Springborg said yesterday no new industrial agreement “comes without a degree of difficult discussion’’.
“I thank the doctors for their part in the process because the outcome delivers a clear focus on productivity and outcomes for patients,’’ he said.
AMA Queensland president-elect Dr Shaun Rudd said while many doctors had signed the revised contracts, the important issue was whether they would continue to work for Queensland Health in the future.
“What is important is what happens next, how people are treated – trust needs to be rebuilt so we can retain these senior medical practitioners in our health system,’’ he said.
“It is up to Queensland Health to show they are serious about looking after staff appropriately and into the future.’’
Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation president Dr Tony Sara said some doctors had only received their contracts this week and had been forced to read and sign in a short time frame.
“A large number have signed but there is still a total lack of trust in the Government, in the Health Department and in many of the district managers,’’ he said.
“Even if the majority have signed, they have signed because they have nothing else to do and they are doing it because of their families, mortgages, children and careers.’’
Dr Sara said he had been told by some doctors that they would resign or reduce their hours.
“Where they can go to the private sector, they will,’’ he said.
A narrow majority of doctors – 53 per cent – recently voted in favour of the revised contracts in ballots conducted by the Together Union and ASMOF. A total of 34 per cent voted against, with 13 per cent unsure of how to proceed.
The deadline to sign the new contracts was Saturday, with the new contracts set to come into effect on Wednesday.
Source: Courier Mail