Dispute over Australian Craniofacial Unit surgeon’s overseas travel for humanitarian work
A NEW drama is enveloping the Australian Craniofacial Unit with a surgeon’s pay docked for doing humanitarian work overseas, which he says is part of his contract.
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THE Australian Craniofacial Unit is embroiled in further drama with a surgeon seeking union help after his pay was docked for a humanitarian trip overseas that he says was part of his contract.
Documents obtained by The Advertiser detail a dispute between the surgeon and management following a clinical visit to Indonesia.
The surgeon found his pay slip had been altered without his knowledge.
In a letter of complaint, he noted his job specification was to “participate in overseas, regional state and interstate clinics, operating teams and teaching and training activities of the ACFU.
“Therefore, the outreach visits to Indonesia is one of my contractual obligations and should be considered as part of my normal duties as it has been previously.”
In a letter of reply, management executive Dr Cindy Molloy said staff cannot go overseas without approval from the chief executive of the Women and Children’s Health Network (WCHN).
“The WCHN has no objection to clinicians being involved in humanitarian activities,” it states.
“However, this is usually taken as personal development leave or leave without pay.
“The WCHN has no knowledge or financial involvement in the overseas clinic. Travel for this I understand is paid for by ACFU Foundation.
“All paid overseas travel requires CEO approval. Staff cannot just go overseas or interstate without prior appropriate approvals.”
Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton said the latest development reinforced the need for an independent inquiry ‘to get to the bottom of concerns with the changes at the unit.
THE AUSTRALIAN CRANIOFACIAL UNIT:
■ Was founded in 1975 by surgeon Professor David David with support from the Dunstan Government.
■ ITS fundamental purpose is: “To ensure that patients can ultimately assume a place in society with renewed hope and restored dignity.”
■ BASED at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital it provide a service for South Australian, interstate and overseas patients, using a multidisciplinary team approach to tackle complex cases, often requiring multiple surgeries.
■ IT has treated about 15 overseas patients a year for the past 44 years.
■ IN September 1988 the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council officially designated the Unit a National Centre of Excellence.
■ CRANIOFACIAL surgery is concerned with the treatment of patients with rare and/or complex congenital or acquired anomalies which together affect the head and face.
■ SOME conditions are present at birth, while others, such as tumours and malignant growths, may develop in later life.
■ MANY people require treatment and support from birth to adulthood and the Unit treats both children and adults.