Junior doctors are speaking out against unfair management within training schedules.
NSW Health has come under fire from ASMOF NSW with the doctor’s union alleging that the department has been blocking study leave for junior doctors.
ASMOF NSW alleged that junior doctors in the state are being denied critical study leave and forced to take accrued days off (ADOs).
“I think health services are always trying to encourage staff to burn through ADOs,” ASMOF Councillor and a doctor in training Dr Isaac Wade told The Medical Republic.
“It’s become sort of this behavioural change where we’re being encouraged to use that first line instead of other forms of leave.”
At Liverpool Hospital, ASMOF NSW reported that junior medical officers were told they could not access study leave because they have accrued too many ADOs.
“This is not just bureaucratic mismanagement, it is fundamentally disrespectful to the doctors holding our health system together,” ASMOF NSW president Dr Nicholas Spooner said.
“Junior doctors are already working excessive hours under enormous pressure, in some cases 14-hour shifts, back-to-back for seven days, and now they are being told they cannot take the leave they need to study and progress their careers.
“We are in the middle of a serious workforce crisis. Doctors are fatigued, understaffed and under pressure.
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“Instead of addressing that, NSW Health is now actively making it harder for junior doctors to complete their training. With a crippling doctor shortage in NSW, this is ridiculously short-sighted and dangerous.
“If we undermine the training pipeline, we undermine the future of the entire health system.”
ASMOF NSW is calling on NSW Health to reinstate study leave, stop substituting ADOs and maintain consistent guidance across local health districts.
Dr Wade told TMR that these calls are less about reform and more directed towards adhering to pre-existing legislation.
“Study leave is set out pretty clearly in the award as being an entitlement that’s used either for courses that we need to do in order for our registration or for certain safety needs at the hospital,” Dr Wade told TMR.
“It’s also set aside for courses and exams for registrar training.
“Whereas ADOs are something that is just an allocated day off, because we get paid 38 hours a week instead of 40.
“The rules are all very clear there that we should be using study leave for study and ADOs as a day off, but that’s not being followed.”
Health NSW has responded to the accusations by expressing its commitment to the professional and career development of junior doctors.
Per NSW Health, the Public Hospital Medical Officers (State) Award 2023 grants junior doctors with one ADO a month with the intention that it would be used in the same month.
“Study leave is available to junior doctors to undertake tertiary studies at an educational institution and is granted at the discretion of the employee’s organisation,” the NSW Health spokesperson told TMR.
“This is based on a range of factors including ADO accrual and impact on the employee’s work area.
“There may be occasions where a junior doctor is required to take one or more ADOs before being granted study leave, or to take a combination of ADOs and study leave, to manage accrued ADO limits.
“Claims around study leave and protected teaching time will be determined by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission later this year.”
