AMA Victoria releases statement after Albury Wodonga Health suspension

Following the suspension of Dr David Clancy from Albury Wodonga Health (AWH), Australian Medical Association (Victoria) (AMA Victoria) has released a statement publicly acknowledging the concerns of AWH staff.

In its 11 March statement, AMA Victoria said it had been working with staff at AWH over recent months “to try to identify a path forward in the ongoing issues involving staff and hospital executive”.

AMA Victoria said this work had been undertaken in good faith and included discussions with clinicians, government, the Department of Health and Safer Care Victoria (SCV) “in the hope that a constructive resolution could be found”.

“We were hopeful that we might be able to see a level of mutual cooperation and engagement from all parties, which could lead to a resolution and enable the medical staff to do the jobs they are there to do; serve and care for the communities of Albury, Wodonga and surrounds, support their training doctors and build the expertise in the health service,” the statement read.

“Until now we have deliberately kept that work largely behind the scenes in the hope that a constructive resolution could be reached.” However, on 11 March, AMA Victoria said that the events of the last week “have shown us that we are a long way away from that, and that it is now important that these concerns are acknowledged publicly”.

“The suspension of a senior and highly respected member of the medical fraternity, Dr David Clancy, has seen a reaction from staff and community which is profound,” the statement read. “In particular, staff who have contacted AMAV are incredibly distressed and angry about this latest action and have raised concerns about the lack of transparency, the poor communication and the lack of trust they had in the processes that led to this decision.

“It is understood that the AWH Board has made the decision to stand the doctor down based on an SCV report that has not been provided to the doctor or his representatives. We also understand that the doctor has not been named in the report. We have sought the original report directly from SCV, but it has not been provided at this point.

“AMA Victoria shares the concern raised by staff and will be seeking further information from all parties involved. At a time when health services across Victoria are being asked to prioritise staff wellbeing and psychological safety, it is essential that organisational processes are trusted by the workforce and that communication with clinicians is open and transparent.

“It is also clear that the current situation has again raised broader questions about leadership, governance and how the relationship between clinicians and the organisation can be rebuilt. Concerns about these matters have been raised with [AMA Victoria] over a considerable period and did not begin with the events of last week. These matters require careful consideration if confidence is to be restored.”

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