Allied health and doctors walk off in double strike

GV Health clinical director of anaesthetics Dr Helen Roberts said many medical staff felt they had been put in a difficult position by the Victorian Government’s inaction.

“We are quite conflicted and disappointed we’ve gotten to this stage and feel this has to be done,” she said.

“We were hoping we wouldn’t have to take this action.”

“It’s a real challenge for us all to maintain standards of care while advocating for safer conditions.”

The doctors’ strike follows more than 14 months of negotiations over working hours, fatigue and patient safety.

Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation Victoria president Roderick McRae said doctors were being rostered for 84-hour weeks and often worked longer when emergencies occurred.

“Our doctors do not take the decision to go on strike lightly,” Dr McRae said.

“But the reality is they are being rostered on for 84-hour weeks and frequently work even longer when emergencies occur.

“The threat that this systemic fatigue presents to patient safety is simply unacceptable.

“The people of Victoria need a solution to this crisis, and they need it fast.”

Doctors are calling to have shifts capped at 12.5 hours and at least three guaranteed days off each fortnight.

Dr Roberts said she hoped the industrial action would lead to better health, wellbeing, safety and career opportunities, ultimately improving the standard of care for patients.

She said some GV Health doctors would travel to Melbourne to join demonstrations outside Victorian Parliament.

At the same time, allied health workers, including physiotherapists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, podiatrists and medical scientists, are taking part in a 24-hour strike over pay and working conditions.

Physiotherapist Lyndall Bigland said workers had been negotiating for more than 12 months over wage disparity and safer working conditions.

“Time is running out,” she said.

“Allied health and doctors are still waiting.

“You can’t rely on our goodwill to keep coming in, we need to be paid properly.

“We’re just trying to get financial parity with other states.”

She said the pay disparity between states made recruitment and retention in Victoria increasingly difficult.

“We need a stable health system. If you don’t have a health system that is stable there’s going to be massive problems,” she said.

“It’s not just about us, we’re concerned about patients.”

GV Health acting chief medical officer Jeffrey Kirwan said the health service respected its medical workforce’s right to participate in lawful industrial action.

“Patient safety remains our highest priority, and emergency and critical services will continue to be maintained,” Dr Kirwan said.

Hospital emergency departments will be excluded from the stoppage and staffing across the hospital will remain at Saturday levels to protect patient safety and welfare.