Doctors take industrial action to protest pay and over-reliance on locumsÂ
Half of ED registrar positions in a Tasmanian hospital had to be filled by locums, says anaesthetist Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel.
Doctors in Tasmania have taken industrial action for the first time in decades after dismissing a pay offer as inadequate.
Lead negotiator Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel said the decision was not taken lightly but was necessary due to the State Government’s failure to attract new doctors and fix a staffing crisis.
The work-to-rule action started last week across the public hospital system after AMA negotiations with the government broke down.
Doctors voted to work their rostered hours only, take appropriate lunch and fatigue breaks, and if they worked through lunch breaks for patient care, they would claim that as paid time.
