Junior doctors at Cairns Hospital have given it a B minus

A Cairns doctor has called for better support around bullying and harassment, as annual report has revealed 58 per cent were concerned of negative consequences for reporting.

Cairns Hospital graded by junior doctors on work culture and experience.

A Cairns doctor has called for better support around bullying and harassment, as a new report revealed 58 per cent of junior doctors at Cairns Hospital were concerned of negative consequences for reporting.

The eighth edition of the annual Resident Hospital Health Check 2023 report by the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation Queensland and AMA Queensland’s Committee of Doctors in Training was released on Wednesday, evaluating the experiences of 723 working junior doctors across the state.

The responses from Cairns Hospital revealed 20 per cent of employees experienced bullying, making it the fourth-highest in the criteria, while 12 per cent said they witnessed it.

A young Cairns doctor, who did not wish to be named, said she had seen and experienced bullying during her time at the hospital.

“I have experienced bullying through social media from other medical staff,” she said.

“There needs to be more support around bullying and harassment, particularly being able to report anonymously for those cases when it is your supervisor or boss involved.”

The employee assistance program was the main avenue for support, she said, but it had mixed reviews based on other colleagues who had accessed it.

“I’ve never used it, I tend to seek support more privately from my GP.”

Cairns Hospital exterior photos. PICTURE: STEWART McLEAN

The doctor said she was encouraged and supported in making a formal report by senior colleagues.

The other big concern for Cairns, in her opinion, was the lack of staffing, which is consistent with the trend statewide.

According to her, it contributed to a stressful work environment.

“Based on other hospitals, I’d say Cairns is good,” she said.

“I have definitely been able to get better at my job here and have had many opportunities in rural and remote positions.”

Cairns Hospital received an overall grade of B minus this year – an upgrade from last year’s C+, rating 63 per cent in clinical rotation preferencing and allocation and 91 per cent for doctors being appropriately paid for unrostered overtime worked they claimed.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service’s Dr Lachlan Gordon, acting director of medical and emergency, said Cairns’ junior doctor program had been very successful since it was introduced in 1988.

“We attract graduates not only from our own region, but young doctors-in-training from all over the world,” Dr Gordon said.

“Importantly, the majority of our interns stay on with us after their initial 12 months of training.

“Our rating on the ASMOFQ, and AMAQ’s annual Resident Hospital Health Check 2023 reflects the hard work our staff have been doing to ensure junior doctors not only want to come to our facilities to work, but also stay.”

Dr Gordon said it was important for the health service to receive feedback to assist in reviewing process and ensure “we are providing great working conditions for our staff”.

“We carry out our own internal surveys at the end of each term with our junior doctors, and theseindicate a high level of satisfaction with workload and conditions,” he said.

The report also found 91 per cent felt there were given an adequate break in between shifts of ten hours or more, 50 per cent said they were concerned about making a clinical error due to fatigue caused by hours overload, just slightly below the state percentage of 53 per cent.

Fewer doctors (29 per cent) felt unsafe due to verbal or physical intimidation or threats from patients or other staff.

Dr Hau Tan, president of the Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation Queensland. Picture Supplied

AMAQ President Dr Maria Boulton. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

ASMOFQ president Dr Hau Tan said the Resident Hospital Health Check was an important survey to check in on our junior doctors.

“Because they have just started their careers, they are also vulnerable to bullying, discrimination and harassment, as well as not speaking up for fear of harm to their career progression,” he said.

“ASMOFQ will continue to support and advocate for doctors to ensure that their workplaces are safe and their working conditions are protected.”

AMA Queensland president Dr Maria Boulton said early career doctors were among the most vulnerable financially and emotionally.

Among 20 hospitals surveyed, Cairns was among five hospitals to get a B minus.

Rockhampton scored the least and Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital came in strongest with a B+.

Originally published as Junior doctors at Cairns Hospital have given it a B minus