Media release

Hospitals to be Accountable for Rostering Unsafe Hours

Unsafe and excessive working hours for junior doctors in public hospitals will become a thing of the past as the Australian Medical Association launches a comprehensive auditing and lobbying campaign.

AMA Federal Vice President, Dr Sandra Hacker, said public hospitals will be held accountable for any unsafe work practices which can result from rostering excessive working hours.

"Public hospitals that don't take the necessary steps to change what we consider dangerous working hours, will be exposed and patients will get a better idea of which hospitals roster unsafe working hours for junior doctors," Dr Hacker said.

"A key element of this campaign is the collection of powerful and compelling data on the actual hours worked by junior doctors. On a confidential basis, junior doctors will record the hours they work and the data will be assessed to determine their level of fatigue and the risk factor of such a roster.

"The campaign also involves getting key organisations and accreditation groups on board by adopting and recognising the AMA's Safe Hours Code of Practice. Among those organisations to be targeted are:

  • state and territory health departments;
  • hospital occupational, health and safety departments;
  • unions;
  • hospital associations;
  • medical colleges; and
  • area health services.

"The dam wall has cracked with the Australian Council on HealthCare Standards already agreeing to use the code of practice as part of a hospital's accreditation process.

"It is essential that the code is adopted across the board to make Australia's public hospitals conform to occupational health and safety standards and to ensure a safer hospital system for patients.

"This campaign will be rolled out progressively from state to state," Dr Hacker said.

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