Axed medic John Burgess vows to keep fighting for the Royal Hobart Hospital

Dr John Burgess is not deterred from his stance despite his shock axing from a leadership role at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Dr John Burgess has been removed from a leadership role at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Picture: SUPPLIED

THE senior doctor removed from a leadership role at the Royal Hobart Hospital has expressed his shock at the decision but vows it will not deter him from advocating for patients and staff, or working as a clinician in the health service.

In a letter to colleagues, seen by the Sunday Tasmanian, Australian Medical Association Tasmania president John Burgess expresses his concern at the decision to dismantle the Critical Care, Clinical Support and Investigations Stream at the hospital and that it may have been a reaction “to the growing crisis as portrayed in the media, as well as off the back of budget pressures”.

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Dr Burgess thanked colleagues for support after his axing and said he wanted the CCCS & I clinical services stream to remain at the RHH.

“I am hoping that through a consultation process now under way that sense will prevail and the decision to dismantle the CCCS & I clinical services stream will not be followed through,” he said.

“I remain determined to continue serving the community and my patients as a clinician, a medical educator, and mentor for our medical students and junior medical staff.

“You can be assured that I will continue to represent what I believe is right for the health system and most importantly, the patients within it.”

Last week, Dr Burgess wrote a stinging assessment of the culture at the top of the health department in a Talking Point article for the Mercury.

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The day after the article was published, his leadership role at the hospital was axed and he was informed the specialist clinical services team would be dismantled.

Dr Burgess’s comments come as junior doctors at the RHH have signed a 10-page letter to the health department, outlining their frustration at working conditions and staffing levels.

Opposition health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said junior doctors were leaving Tasmania to take up positions elsewhere with better work conditions.

“It’s time for [Premier] Will Hodgman and [Health Minister] Sarah Courtney to take responsibility for the crisis in Tasmania’s health system and act on the recommendations outlined in the letter from junior doctors to the Tasmanian Health Service,” she said.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said talks had been held between the hospital leadership team and junior medical staff.

“I am advised there will be further engagement between staff and local hospital leadership next week, following receipt of the reported letter,” she said

“I will be working closely with hospital leadership as this progresses and will also be seeking to meet with concerned staff.”