“Our hospitals will be in crisis and the future medical workforce at risk if projected rates of resignation by doctors prove correct,” said newly elected AMA (NSW) President Dr Brian Morton.

“The majority of public hospital doctors recently surveyed by the University of Sydney were thinking of leaving the public health system within twelve months, and had record lack of trust in management compared to Australian industry norms. 

“This echoes the findings of a 2006 AMA (NSW) survey of rural Visiting Medical Officers which found that the majority of rural and regional VMOs were intending to retire within five years.

“The state government also needs to make a commitment to replace obsolete and outdated equipment, which can pose danger to patients,” Dr Morton said.
 
“An AMA (NSW) survey of Royal North Shore doctors showed that the deadlines set by the Nile inquiry have not been met.  No respondents saw evidence of increased funding to replace obsolete equipment or the development of a ten year capital equipment plan, improvements which should have taken place by April. 

“Previous state budgets have been characterised by re-announcements of allocated funding.  AMA (NSW) would like see transparent budgets and timelines showing a long term plan for hospital and health services across NSW,” Dr Morton said.

Fact Sheet - State of Health – NSW

Medical Workforce

Almost two thirds of NSW public hospital doctors and nurses have seriously considered leaving the system within 12 months.  (Working Conditions of Doctors and Nurses in NSW Public Hospitals, Workplace Research Centre, University of Sydney 2008)

More than 70 per cent of doctors work over 50 hours per week.  In maternity/paediatrics 90 per cent of doctors work over 50 hours per week, with a similar workload in surgery.  More than half of public hospital doctors and nurses are always or usually exhausted. Junior doctors continue to work an average of 57 hours a week, despite campaigns to decrease these hours (Workplace Research Centre report)

Only 17 per cent of doctors, compared to 70 per cent of Australian employees, trust their managers “to tell things the way they are” (Workplace Research Centre report)

More than 50 per cent of rural and regional Visiting Medical Officers set to retire within five years (AMA (NSW) and Rural Doctors Association (NSW))

 Equipment

 “A number of AHS and the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children have a large number of items of plant and equipment that are fully depreciated. ….. Some of these assets are quite old.  The Department and its controlled entities should determine if they need to be replaced, particularly where the continued use of these fully depreciated assets might affect the efficient and effective provision of health services” (Auditor-General’s Report to Parliament 2008 Volume One)

Hospital Bed Occupancy Rates

Average bed occupancy rates in NSW public hospitals exceed 95 per cent.  The safe rate 85 per cent (AMA Public Hospital Report Card 2007)

“Acute hospitals which operate at bed occupancy levels of 90 per cent or more face regular bed crises, with associated risks to patients” (BMJ Vol319, 17 July 1999 p 158)

NSW has 2.9 beds available for 1000 population.  The OECD average is 3.9 per 1000. (OECD, Health at a Glance 2007)

Rural Health

Rural maternity units halved since 1994, and rural obstetrician numbers have more than halved since 1994 (Source Rural Doctors Association NSW)

Mental Health

NSW ranks 6th across the states and territories in mental health expenditure and has for 15 years been below the national average on mental health spending and beds. (National Mental Health Report, 2007)