Sixth orthopaedic surgeon resigns from Canberra Hospital in matter of weeks amid 'enormous unhappiness'

Six of Canberra Hospital's fourteen orthopaedic surgeons have submitted their resignations within a matter of weeks.

Transcript

00:00Paul Smith says he's not alone when it comes to frustration with the ACT's public health

00:08system.

00:09There is no surgeon in the hospital who's happy about this.

00:15All of the directors of the department hate it.

00:19It's just that I'm the mug who's stood up and said, listen, it's rubbish.

00:23He's one of six surgeons who've tended resignations in recent weeks.

00:28On November 6th, Dr Alexander Burns did so last Friday, citing several changes that have

00:33moved to a point which I feel is not acceptable, including trying to institute changes to visiting

00:39medical officer contracts without any discussion and the plan to move the successful elective

00:45joint replacement program back to the Canberra Hospital without consultation, infrastructure

00:51and senior nursing staff with the skills to perform the surgeries.

00:55Dr Burns says he'll work out his notice, but he's told that some warn the ACT can't afford to lose.

01:03Recruitment has always been a challenge and it is getting harder and harder to find good

01:07people who want to work here.

01:10Why?

01:11Because the system is really not offering them anything.

01:14The Australian Medical Association says it's not just the orthopaedic unit that's frustrated

01:19with an operation centre model, which centralises coordination of patient movement through the

01:25healthcare system, including for triage, diagnosis, treatment and surgery.

01:30I think that what we need to see very, very clearly demonstrated is that clinicians will

01:36continue to maintain clinical autonomy and have a say in how their patients are managed.

01:42In a statement, a Canberra Health Services spokesman said,

01:45we acknowledge that the expertise these VMOs provide cannot be replaced overnight and we

01:51will also work with patients who may be affected by this to minimise the impact this may have

01:57on the care they receive.

01:59This could include reallocation to a different surgeon within the unit or an alternative arrangement.

02:05While the AMA argues the ability to combine public and private practice is key in doctors'

02:10decisions about working in the capital, Canberra Health Services says it's in ongoing discussions

02:15with its VMO workforce about the need to phase out fee-for-service contracts to ensure the

02:20sustainability of the public health system.

02:23The service is also committed to working with surgical teams to address concerns about the

02:27operations centre and confirm plans to recruit more staff.