The Rural Doctors’ Association of South Australia has welcomed a three-month extension on contract negotiations with Country Health SA.
Doctors need to sign the contracts to be able to continue working in regional hospitals but many have declined, disagreeing with some of the clauses.
Country Health SA yesterday announced an extension on the deadline for doctors to sign the contracts.
The state association’s president, Dr Scott Lewis, said he was pleased negotiations could continue beyond the weekend.
“Most importantly, that’s a three-month surety and it’s a reassurance that all of these doctors can work and they can go to the hospitals next week and we can continue to provide the services that we always want to provide,” he said.
“I am very, very confident that we are going to be able to see a resolution to this over the next few months, it’s been a real circuit breaker to the issue that’s coming to a head.
“We have the surety that we’re going to be able to work and we’re going to be able to provide the services.”