Staff cuts looming for Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals, SASMOA claims

SA Health has confirmed it has an “internal document” that outlines plans to cut doctors and nurses at two major hospitals.

Secret documents reveal staff cuts are looming at the Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth hospitals, the state’s doctors’ union says.

The SA Salaried Medical Officers’ Association claims SA Health is refusing to release a document, produced by consultants KordaMentha, that shows a plan to cut doctors, nurses, allied health and administrative positions at the two hospitals.

“The advice from the clinicians is that, in their clinical opinion, the cuts will have a significant impact on the safety of patients,” union leader Bernadette Mulholland told her members in a memo.

“Proposing more cuts to staff in a system that is already in crisis because of previous cuts is ludicrous.”

An SA Health spokeswoman confirmed an “internal working document”, which contained “opportunities” identified by KordaMentha, had been created.

The SA Salaried Medical Officers’ Association claims a secret document reveals looming staff cuts for the RAH and QEH.

Ms Mulholland wrote in the memo that the union will seek the document under the FOI act.

Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton said the alleged planned cuts were “incomprehensible”.

“The (State) Government needs to stop their cuts agenda and listen to our doctors, nurses and paramedics who say more resources are needed to address the crisis.”

KordaMentha was appointed as administrator of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) in November 2018.

The company was tasked with reducing an annual budget blowout that spiralled towards $300m. It achieved savings of $57m in its first year in the role.

KordaMentha’s contract with CALHN expired in March.

The SA Health spokeswoman said: “While no decisions have been made, an internal document has been prepared that outlines various opportunities for CALHN to consider”.

“Opportunities were identified by KordaMentha as part of their contract, which concluded earlier this year.

“These and other opportunities would be subject to all required consultation processes.”

Health minister Stephen Wade accused Labor of “misrepresenting” KordaMentha’s work.

“In any event, this analysis was done under their concluded contract,” he said.

“There has been a net increase of more than 1000 frontline health staff since the 2018 election, according to the independent Auditor General’s figures.”

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