A junior doctor at Epping Hospital in Melbourne’s north, David Hand, regularly worked up to 10 hours of unpaid overtime a week. He would arrive an hour before his official paid shift started to prepare patient lists, blood results, medications, and discharge summaries. At the end of shifts, there was an expectation that he would work for an additional hour to compile handovers, discharge summaries, medication lists, and death certificates. This exhausting schedule left him fatigued and at risk of burnout, which he believes compromises patient safety. Despite the challenges, the experience solidified his desire to become a GP, where he could have more control over his hours and achieve a better work-life balance.
Hand, who now works as a GP at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, described the settlement of the backpay proceedings as a great relief. He hopes it will lead to better conditions for junior doctors across the state. The ongoing issue of unrostered overtime causing health issues among staff and increasing the risk of errors has been followed by The Age for several years. Discharge summaries, emergency department patients, and pre-ward round notes were identified as key drivers of overtime, with the main concern always being the impact on patient safety. The settlement represents a positive outcome for all parties involved and demonstrates the power of the class action regime in providing legal redress for individuals.
Gordon Legal partner Andrew Grech, who worked on the class actions, praised all parties for reaching a resolution in the complex case. He highlighted the effectiveness of the class action regime in providing access to legal redress for those affected. Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation president Dr. Roderick McRae expressed hope that the settlement would bring an end to the ongoing saga and that payments would be processed promptly. The government and Department of Health emphasized their commitment to the health and wellbeing of medical staff, citing a review into the Victorian Public Sector Medical Staff Workplace Systems and Employment Arrangements. The $175 million in-principle agreement is pending approval from the Federal Court, with steps being taken to bring the agreement before the court for consideration.
Northern Health, the organization where Hand worked, was contacted for comment on the settlement. Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier criticized the length and total cost of the saga, attributing it to “Labor’s incompetence.” She expressed concern that taxpayers would foot a significant bill due to the unresolved issue. The settlement represents a positive step towards addressing the challenges faced by junior doctors in terms of unpaid overtime and its impact on their health and patient safety. It underscores the importance of improving working conditions for medical staff and ensuring they are supported in their roles to provide the best possible care for patients.
