Health cuts: We won't let Junior Docs be screwed!
AMA (WA) President Prof Gary Geelhoed has warned the Health Department not to reduce payments
to Junior Doctors working overtime as part of their strategy to cut funding by three per cent.
In a letter to Director General of Health, Dr Peter Flett, he writes: "The association
does not believe that it is fair or reasonable for Junior Doctors to have to subsidise the department's
deficit."
Prof Geelhoed points out that strict strategies are already in place to reduce overtime and
that patient safety is being put at risk.
He asks Dr Flett to confirm that the payment of un-rostered overtime for Junior Doctors will
not be compromised and that they are paid for the work they do.
Dr Flett revealed details of the three per cent cuts to an Upper House inquiry last week, raising
serious concerns that patient care would be compromised and that Junior
Doctors would become the sacrificial lambs as part of the "efficiency" drive.
The AMA believes the WA Government is skating on dangerously thin ice if it thinks it can prune
staff numbers in Health by more than the equivalent of 500 full time staff in the next nine months
without affecting clinical services and patient care.
Dr Peter Flett says natural attrition, reductions in casual and temporary staff levels and less
overtime will help achieve the 3 per cent Budget reductions demanded by Treasurer Troy Buswell.
In fact, Dr Flett predicts that the savings he's identified will exceed 3 per cent in
the next four financial years!
The AMA (WA) has repeatedly claimed that Health is seriously underfunded – something
the Government agreed with in Opposition - and Dr Flett's admission of a $230 million blow
out this financial year is further proof that there just isn't enough money to do the job
properly.
Slash and burn is standard procedure for any new Government in its first year in office; the
tragedy will be if this philosophy puts any serious attempt to "fix" health on
the back burner yet again.
Patients deserve better. Brace yourself for more battles!
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