Pandemic challenges

Pandemic challenges

Staffing remains difficult in hospitals and medical practices as COVID case numbers result in the furloughing of staff in significant numbers. In addition, elective surgery shutdowns in 2020 and 2021 have resulted in increasing wait lists in the private and public hospital systems.

AMA (NSW) continues to advocate for a sustainable system response as we adjust to living with COVID-19. Further elective surgery shutdowns are not the answer. To address the wait list, there will be the need, at least in the short term, some public patient work to be undertaken in the private hospital system.  

VMO contracts

The Workplace Relations Team has reviewed and advised members on the contracts they have been offered to undertake public patient work in the private sector. AMA (NSW) continues to advocate for this work to be undertaken under VMO contracts between doctors and Local Health Districts, regardless of where the work is undertaken. This ensures that training opportunities are available for doctors-in-training, many of whom lost training opportunities during elective surgery shutdowns and also ensures the work is undertaken by VMOs under the same terms and conditions regardless of where the work is performed. 

If you have been offered a contract, or have signed a contract, to undertake public work in the private sector and require advice regarding the same please contact the Workplace Relations Team. 

Private practice

Private medical practices are also grappling with the challenges of the new COVID normal. If a doctor or staff member in your medical practice is a household or close contact of a COVID-19 case, they must comply with the NSW Health Household Contact Guidelines. Please note, these guidelines are subject to change from the time of writing. 

Medical practices should be regularly reviewing their policies to ensure they are meeting their WHS obligations to staff and patients. Medical practices should be implementing the following risk minimisation measures:

• Mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for all staff;
• Mandating masks (and other PPE as may be appropriate);
• Regularly reviewing the risk profile of your patients;
• Encouraging the use of telehealth where appropriate;
• If a staff member is a household contact of a COVID-19 positive case, assessing whether they need to be in the practice to work? Can they work remotely? If they are at work, they should wear a P2/N95 mask at all times (other than eating and drinking, and if eating and drinking this should preferably be done outside or if inside, not in common areas such as the tearoom);
• Having a work from home plan for administration staff to who may be able to do so, particularly at times of high COVID-19 transmission. 

The Workplace Relations Team is ready to assist medical practices with the implementation of policies and procedures that ensure medical practices are meeting their obligations to staff and patients during the COVID-era.

The AMA (NSW) Workplace Relations Team can be contacted at workplace@amansw.com.au.
If you email us, please let us know your preferred means of being contacted and when, so we can do our best to work with you. The Team can also be contacted on (02) 9439 8822.