Northern Beaches Hospital approved by HETI to train junior doctors after a tough first year
A year ago conditions at Northern Beaches Hospital were so bad that junior doctors threatened to walk off the job. Staff have since turned it all around and have been given the go ahead to train a new generation of medicos.
Manly
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A year ago junior doctors at Northern Beaches Hospital were threatening to withhold treatment unless conditions improved.
Now 12 months on the Frenchs Forest hospital run by private operator Healthscope says after extensive improvements it has received a number of commendations by the Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) for its work with junior doctors.
The body has awarded the hospital accreditation to train young doctors for the next four years.
However, President of the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation of New South Wales (ASMOF), Dr Tony Sara, who highlighted the issues junior doctors were facing in the opening months including long hours, not enough staff and a lack of resources, said “good on them”, but more work needs to be done.
He said there were still concerns with junior doctors in their senior training years who have reported that they are still working “inordinate hours and in excess of what would be considered safe”.
A spokesman for Northern Beaches Hospital said it rosters to NSW Health safe working guidelines and actively works to minimise any overtime.
“The hospital has a doctor wellbeing program which includes managing any fatigue.
“This includes ensuring adequate breaks and providing res/sleep rooms.”
Newly appointed Director of Medical Services at Northern Beaches Hospital, Dr Peter Thomas said HETI acknowledged the extensive improvements the hospital has made since opening.
“We’re very pleased that HETI recognised the hospital has made significant progress towards compliance with its accreditation standards,” Dr Thomas said.
“We will continue to work with HETI to ensure we maintain high quality standards for our junior medical officers.”
Deputy Director of Medical Services, Dr Marco Metelo said the hospital received a number of commendations for its work with junior doctors and said the aim is to position Northern Beaches Hospital as a teaching hospital of choice for junior doctors.
Chief executive Andrew Newton said this recognition is a huge achievement and firmly cements the role of hospital in growing the future medical workforce for the northern neaches area.
Meanwhile, a report into the management and operation of the hospital which looked at what went wrong in the opening months, will be released at the end of February following the conclusion of a parliamentary inquiry.
The committee which held several public hearings heard that the hospital’s opening was a “distressing time for junior doctors”.