Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel says wage deal is not enough to keep doctors in Tasmania

Tasmania is relying too heavily on locums, a local doctor says, and it’s leaving permanent doctors burned out. INSIDE THE STOUSH >>

Royal Hobart Hospital.

Tasmanian hospitals are relying on locums to keep the doors open, doctors say, and it’s something they believe will get worse if the state government cannot offer a more competitive pay deal.

The State Government is locked in wage negotiations with the Australian Medical Association and the Tasmanian Salaried Medical Practitioners Society (TSMPS) and now doctors are taking industrial action.

TSMPS lead negotiator Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel said across the Tasmanian health system, up to $80m was being spent on locums per year.

“The situation we have now is ridiculous, we have got units that are completely run by locums or overwhelmingly run by locums,” Dr Lumsden-Steel said.

“The Launceston General Hospital and North West Regional Hospital are struggling in particular to maintain services and they can’t do so without a very high reliance on locums.

“We’re seeing increasingly at the Royal Hobart Hospital … we are now effectively requiring locums to keep out hospitals open.”

TSMPS Secretary Dr Michael Lumsden- Steel. Picture: Chris Kidd

Dr Lumsden-Steel said if vacancies weren’t filled more staff would leave and patients would be left at risk.

“The concern is, when those [locum] doctors aren’t available, the doctors that are left at hospitals have to scramble madly to fill the roster and it’s burning them out,” he said.

“What we’re seeing now is the hospitals are imploding.

“The junior doctors are burning out and they’re choosing not to stay.”

Dr Lumsden-Steel said the current offer from the government would not be competitive enough to attract permanent doctors, something needed to compete with Victoria and keep young doctors in Tasmania.

As part of industrial action, doctors will work their rostered hours and be stricter in taking their breaks, They’ll also claim paid time when they work through them.

Dr Lumsden-Steel admitted they were things workers should already be doing.

“We have doctors who work all night and then don’t have appropriate fatigue breaks and then continue working the next day,” he said.

“We’re going to make sure everything goes on the timesheets, we’re going to make sure we take our breaks.”

He said patients would not be affected by the action and that doctors were prepared to escalate action if the government was not responsive.

A Department of Premier and Cabinet spokesperson said negotiations would continue.

“It is disappointing that the AMA and TSMPS have chosen to take industrial action and they are encouraged to reconsider this, so that negotiations are not delayed, discussions can continue, and doctors can receive their salary increases when they are due in July 2023,” they said.

Department of health secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said the department was committed to ongoing recruitment and retention.

Kathrine Morgan-Wicks Department of Health secretary. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The health system has been impacted globally by workforce shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is not unique to Tasmania and is occurring both nationally and overseas,” she said.

“We continue to undertake recruitment campaigns to fill vacancies and we acknowledge the continued dedication and commitment of medical practitioners to their roles in our health system.

“The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in increased costs associated with locums, including higher rates of pay, along with the increased expense of airfares, accommodation and hire cars.”