QUT doctors walk out over alleged contract dispute

QUT’s student guild has denied claims it was consulted over changes to campus medical centres that sparked a mass doctor walkout.

QUT’s student guild has rejected the university’s claims it was consulted about changes to campus medical centres that sparked a mass exodus of doctors.

The Courier-Mail today revealed four of the five doctors at the Queensland University of Technology’s main campus at Brisbane’s Gardens Point were set to leave the clinic in the coming weeks: Dr Rhian Kenrick, Dr Vic Sangapillai, Dr Naomi Tan and Dr Kit Fai Cheung.

A fifth doctor, Dr Veronica Kennedy, who works at the Kelvin Grove campus, was also set to depart, while clinical psychologist Chris Hepperlin – the only one listed on the university’s website and who works across both campuses – would also finish.

QUT student guild president Oscar Davison

QUT said there had been a “great deal” of consultation with staff and students, including the student guild, but guild president Oscar Davison said it had only been sent an anonymous email about changes at the centre, with the guild then approaching university management to get an understanding of what was happening.

“We had a couple of conversations where we were essentially told that changes were being made – to me, that’s not consultation,” he said.

Mr Davison questioned why students had not been asked what services or changes to the medical centres they would like to see, given QUT had said any changes would be to benefit the student body.

He also said the longstanding doctors who were leaving the medical centres had intimate knowledge of how to handle university-specific needs, such as medical certificates for assignment extensions.

“In my experience some of our students have quite complex needs – having those health professionals leave is a really significant disruption to those students’ studies,” Mr Davison said.

“Especially if that medical professional goes to a practice then goes to a practice that doesn’t bulk-bill.”

A QUT spokeswoman said the medical centre remained open, and said there had been ongoing consultation around improving the QUT medical centres.

“Our doctors are on contracts and we are currently updating these with the continual focus on students and bulk billing students,” she said.

“Feedback from the doctors leaving is they would prefer to move away from these arrangements, so we wish them well and thank them for their time supporting QUT.”

Professor Margaret Sheil, the vice-chancellor at the Queensland University of Technology. Photo: Glenn Hunt/The Australian

An email sent to students and staff by the university on Friday and seen by The Courier-Mail confirmed the six medical professionals would be leaving by the end of the month.

“They (the medical practitioners) have requested we provide this important information to you,” the email read.

“If you have any outstanding medical issues that you need to consult your doctor about, please make an appointment over the next two weeks.”

The Courier-Mail spoke to several students who expressed their distress at the changes, which they claimed had occurred without consultation with patients.

One said her regular doctor had “kept her alive during the past six months”, and it was frightening to think they would no longer be at the centre.

“My last appointment she wrote me out a year’s worth of blood tests, so she knew it was coming,” the student said.

“This will leave hundreds of people in the lurch – it’s just a real kick in the guts.

“The doctors have been great, they really understand us and the types of issues we face – a lot of us are just in complete shock.”

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Supplied Editorial

Another student who had regularly seen the medical centre’s psychologist said she felt “lost” at the prospect of no longer having regular contact with them.

“I know they will probably get more, but it’s starting from scratch with someone who doesn’t know my history which has really been stressing me out,” she said.

“When I opened that email I felt quite sick and I know I wasn’t the only one.”

The doctor exodus comes after it was revealed earlier this year that QUT had suffered a number of high-profile departures of senior executives and faculty deans over the past two years, among allegations of internal staff unrest and the Covid pandemic.

Supplied Editorial

Supplied Editorial

At least four senior executives have departed the Queensland University of Technology since 2019, including the institution’s provost, chief financial officer, chief information officer and a deputy vice-chancellor.

One QUT staff member claimed some of the medical staff were not happy with how they had been treated.

“I believe there had been a number of issues for some time, and it appears the university was not able to reach a satisfactory arrangement,” they said.

“I do have concerns about it – a number of students rely quite heavily on the centre, and I know have strong relationships with their doctors.

“I hope the university is able to get additional staff, and quickly.”

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QUT said the university was working on expanding facilities and working to reduce wait times for patients.

“We are currently recruiting new doctors and counsellors to ensure we have the very best available to ensure caring and high quality care,” a spokeswoman said.

“There has been a great deal of consultation with students and staff, including the student guild, around improving the QUT medical centres, with the objective of improving the service quality and increasing services to our QUT community.

“This includes expanding the number of doctors and counsellors to reduce the wait times and support our diverse community.”