Doctors union accuses NSW Health of denying junior doctors study leave

ASMOF NSW — The Doctors Union has accused NSW Health of blocking critical study leave for junior doctors — forcing them to take accrued days off (ADOs), which is “leaving them exhausted, underprepared and increasingly desperate as they try to sit gruelling mandatory exams”.

According to the union, the practice is widespread across NSW Health but is particularly acute at Liverpool Hospital, where junior medical officers (JMOs) report being told they cannot access study leave because they have accrued too many ADOs; ADOs are accrued by doctors for working longer rostered work hours, without pay at the time, and are to be taken by doctors at a later date.

“Junior doctors aren’t using study leave for extra-curricular interests or a free holiday. We use it to attend educational courses, workshops and conferences, and complete exams that directly lead to better, more evidence-informed care for our patients,” said Dr Isaac Wade, ASMOF Councillor and a doctor in training at Lismore Hospital.

“Attempts to push doctors to use alternative leave, such as ADOs or annual leave, directly cheat them out of entitlements that they have a right to in the award.

“That study leave then expires, leaving doctors with even fewer opportunities for professional upskilling and development.

“We’re calling on NSW Health to honour our contracts, and give us the chance to further our learning and provide the best, most up-to-date care possible for our patients,” Wade concluded.

ASMOF said it is calling on NSW Health to reinstate study leave, stop substituting ADOs and provide consistent guidance across Local Health Districts.

“Junior doctors are already working excessive hours under enormous pressure, in some cases 14-hour shifts, back-to-back for seven days, and now they are being told they cannot take the leave they need to study and progress their careers,” ASMOF NSW President Dr Nicholas Spooner said.

“This is not just bureaucratic mismanagement, it is fundamentally disrespectful to the doctors holding our health system together.

“We are in the middle of a serious workforce crisis. Doctors are fatigued, understaffed and under pressure.

“Instead of addressing that, NSW Health is now actively making it harder for junior doctors to complete their training. With a crippling doctor shortage in NSW, this is ridiculously short-sighted and dangerous.

“If we undermine the training pipeline, we undermine the future of the entire health system,” Spooner concluded.

If you are affected by any of the issues in this story, support is available. Drs4Drs is a 24/7, free and confidential mental health support service for doctors and medical students in Australia. Please call 1300 374 377.

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