| Publication: | ABC News |
|---|---|
| Date: | 19 November 2009 |
| Section: | Australia - health news |
Doctors say the state government has failed to improve the hospital system, a year after an inquiry called for an urgent overhaul.
The government is spending nearly half-a-billion dollars on its response to the Garling Report, which found the state's hospital system was in crisis.
But a survey by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has found three-quarters of doctors say hospitals have not become a better place to work.
The views of 510 doctors that were questioned have been published in today's Sydney Morning Herald.
The survery found that there were still severe bed shortages, delays in surgery and bullying by managagers.
The AMA's Brian Morton says many doctors believe that the changes to the system have been trivial.
"[The doctors] made comments about staff badges that have moved from the hip to the chest and very little else in real changes to patient care," he said.
"They commented that there was still no involvement of clinical staff in decision making.
"[They spoke of] one token meeting where concerns were listened to but ignored anyway."
Only six per cent of the doctors surveyed said there had been a positive change in workplace culture.
The opposition's health spokeswoman, Jillian Skinner, says the hospital system is only getting worse.
"I think it's very disturbing," she said.
"After all the effort that Mr Garling went to and the many people who gave evidence to him that we're seeing the culture worsening and no improvement for patients and doctors and nurses working in the hospital system."
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