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The AMA (NSW) has been inundated with calls and emails from doctors across the state incensed by insulting comments from NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey about visiting medical officers (VMOs).
As reported in The Sydney Morning Herald on July 10th Mr Mookhey told a meeting of Health Services Union delegates that he was “surprised to learn” how much the state spends on visiting medical officers.
“We spend more per capita on VMOs than Queensland and WA, which has a more dispersed health system,” Mr Mookhey is quoted as saying.
But Mr Mookhey made a big mistake – he conflated the cost of VMOs and locums.
AMA (NSW) councillor Dr Fred Betros described it as an unfair attack on already worn-down specialists across the state. The Western Sydney general surgeon said “The Treasurer has got this dangerously wrong. He has hit the wrong target. He has confused the VMOs, who form an integral part of our health system with locums who plug holes in the system.”
“VMOs are specialist practitioners engaged as contractors in public hospitals, usually for five- year terms, often served back-to-back. Many have been working for decades in the same community.
Locums are engaged to meet short-term needs – like periods of leave or immediate demands where there is an uptick in activity. Due to outdated industrial arrangements, locums have become an expensive part of ‘business as usual’ in our hospitals.”
Dr Betros said “The services VMOs provide are highly significant, particularly in regional and rural areas of NSW. They are already on edge. In many of these environments VMOs work under conditions of high clinical pressure with very little additional support. They provide essential care to their communities and are the cornerstone of services that are already spread incredibly thin.”
He warned that patients are suffering as a result of the treatment of VMOs. “Currently there is a dire shortage as VMOs are drawn away from the public system due to the poor working environment and disrespect. The flow on effect is a worsening of delays in elective surgery.”
“Regional, rural and remote communities face even greater consequences. Without VMOs, specialist medical services would barely exist outside the cities.”
AMA (NSW) is seeking urgent clarification from the State Government to ensure that the NSW VMOs are respected, and their hard work acknowledged.
Contact
AMA (NSW) Media: +61 419 402 955 | news@amansw.com.au