AMA 15th National Conference 2003 - AMA to push for safer hours and better work and training practices

Dr Mudge said the benefits of workplace flexibility enjoyed by others in the community don't always flow on to doctors and other health professionals.

"Not only will we be pushing for change and providing the resource materials to reform work practices, we will be auditing hospitals and training programs to see how effective they are at improving conditions for doctors," Dr Mudge said.

Chairing the Work Life Flexibility plenary session At the AMA National Conference 2003, Dr Mudge said the AMA wants to build on its successful Safe Hours campaign to create better working environments for young doctors.

"This will enable them to achieve a healthy balance between their careers and their private lives," Dr Mudge said.

"Like everybody else in the community, doctors and trainee doctors want to be able to enjoy leisure activities and spend time with family and friends away from the stresses of their work," Dr Mudge said.

"Long hours and poorly resourced workplaces are disincentives to a happy and productive medical workforce.

"AMA research shows that an acute shortage of doctors, support staff and funding in our public hospitals are impediments to improving the flexibility of medical work and training practices.

"We will be circulating our research to the key players in the hospital system to get support for our plans.

"And we will be lobbying hospitals, colleges, and other relevant medical training organisations to implement safer and more flexible work and training practices," Dr Mudge said.

CONTACT: Dr Trevor Mudge (0413) 733 701

John Flannery (0419) 494 761

Judith Tokley (0408) 824 306