Doctors reveal “toxic” and “dangerous” working environment at major Sydney hospitals

Trainee doctors are struggling with escalating mental health concerns as they deal with mounting work pressures, sources have revealed.

Doctors have lifted the lid on a “poisonous” and “dangerous” hospital culture that they claim is leaving trainees crying “all the time”.

One doctor – who spoke anonymously in fear of repercussions – said his young colleagues had been left feeling “stoic” and “dejected” working in the chronically understaffed Westmead and Auburn hospitals.

Both hospitals were at the forefront of the Covid response with intense workloads bringing staff to breaking point.

“They are just sharing horror stories of s--t they’ve gone through … Morale is so low,” the doctor said.

It comes as the Australian Medical Association described the issues facing trainee doctors as “systemic” and needing urgent attention.

The doctor agreed staffing shortages were among the long-running issues.

“They send emails like RUOK?

“But it’s so simple, you just need to staff the hospital.”

“(The workload) is very very very dangerous and I’m not surprised that people have died as a result of it …

“The lack of support you have is very dangerous and the antagonism … towards you is very poisonous and bad for your mental health.”

A second source – who worked as a trainee across the Western Sydney LHD – including at both Westmead and Auburn Hospitals said that bullying was common place.

“They encourage you to speak up and when I spoke up, we are punished (sic),” they said. “We are just there as numbers.”

Hospitals in western Sydney at the forefront of the pandemic are experiencing low morale, according to sources. Picture: AFP

The doctor developed insomnia, couldn’t eat, and had heart palpitations when in the wards due to bullying and work pressures.

“I didn’t think the culture of medicine would be so toxic,” the source said.

“I came into medicine being excited, wanting to help.

The Daily Telegraph has been told it was common for just one junior doctor to be staffed at Auburn Hospital at night to attend to wards while simultaneously helping out in theatre – leaving the wards unstaffed of a junior doctor for up to hours at a time.

A spokesman for Western LHD said senior consultants were “always available” to “support” junior doctors.

“WSLHD remains committed to supporting our staff and responding to their concerns,” he said.

AMA doctors-in-training committee co-chair Dr Jacqueline Ho said: “There are lots of lectures around wellbeing but really, what would address it rather than mindfulness exercises, is adequate facilities, adequate staffing.

“What we need is systemic change,” she said.

The concerning remarks follow a significant number of medical professionals seeking help from a confidential psychotherapy service that was created during the pandemic.