10th May, 2006
The resignation of at least six doctors from the Werribee Mercy Hospital in the last two months is indicative of the lack of support for public hospital doctors in Victoria, according to AMA Victoria President Dr Mark Yates.
“The Wyndham community has lost six good doctors who were essential to their hospital’s emergency department.
“This is an increasingly busy hospital servicing one of the fastest growing areas and can ill afford to lose these doctors.
“The alarm bells should be ringing for the government. What we have been saying to government for six months is all evidenced by these resignations,“ Dr Yates said.
“We are already 900 doctors short and the drain of good doctors from our public hospitals is underway while this government sits on its hands and denies it is happening.
“This is about valuing our doctors and ensuring they have appropriate conditions and support to provide quality care to public hospital patients.
“We cannot afford to lose good doctors from our public hospitals. The government knows we have a doctor shortage and the government must do everything it can to keep doctors in the public hospital system.
“The government is investing in new buildings and advertising, but failing to invest in supporting doctors in their bid to provide quality care,” Dr Yates said.
“Having spoken to some of the doctors involved, we understand work conditions have made their positions untenable.
“The hospital is the meat in the sandwich – this is about the government providing the appropriate levels of support to doctors and hospitals,” Dr Yates said.