Survey provides snapshot of junior doctor health and wellbeing

Dr Pesce said the AMA undertook the survey because it continues to be concerned about the pressures that junior doctors are facing in the early stages of their career, especially the challenges of working in the public hospital system.

“The survey found that junior doctors have a rewarding and satisfying career in medicine, with more than three-quarters of respondents reporting that they had enjoyed working as a doctor over the previous year and were looking forward to their work in the coming year,” Dr Pesce said.

“Unfortunately the survey confirms what most of us know – junior doctors are struggling to cope with excessive workloads. The conditions in our public hospitals have led doctors to feel compromised as they try to meet demanding rosters and deliver high-quality patient-centred care.

“The survey also shows that doctors must get better at caring for themselves – they are relying too much on self-treatment rather than consulting their GP.

“There is an unambiguous case for ensuring that junior doctors have much better support structures in place.  The survey has demonstrated more must be done to look after our junior doctors – and, by extension, to look after the patients in their care.”

Dr Pesce said the survey provided further evidence that insufficient funding by governments was the root cause of the stresses and strains in our public hospitals.

“Promoting doctors’ health will continue to be a priority for the AMA and we are pursuing practical ways to improve the health and well-being of doctors.  This includes sponsoring research that will help the profession keep track of preventable deaths or severe injury that can be attributed to doctors’ working conditions,” he said.

CONTACT:

John Flannery 02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761

Peter Jean     02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753