The Board and Management of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital have scheduled a closed door meeting with junior doctors next week to deal with grievances over the working conditions at the hospital.
This follows an outcry from the junior doctors and a government Senator over what were said to be extremely long working hours.
Senator Dr Crystal Haynes, a medical practitioner, sees a need to abolish the 30 hour work days for doctors. She says the situation is unsafe for both doctors and patients.
In a statement, the junior doctors said that as a result of long working hours, several doctors have either migrated to the U.S, United Kingdom or Canada, resigned from their posts, taken extended sick leave periods or require mental health counselling for physician burnout.
The QEH management and board have issued a notice inviting the junior doctors to what the message describes as a closed door listening session to be held on Monday on March 27th at 2pm in the QEH auditorium.
The message says it is hoped the outcomes of this and any subsequent meetings can be used to guide plans for the improvement of the doctors’ working conditions and well-being going forward.
