BY DAKOTA TAIT
Twelve doctors at the John Hunter Hospital have signed a letter, calling on Health Minister Brad Hazzard to address concerns which they say are impacting their ability to deliver adequate healthcare.
The doctors co-signing the letter include vascular surgeons, anaesthetists, and an obstetrician.
They've ranged concern about workload pressures, staff shortages, inadequate equipment, and poor resource allocation at the John Hunter, saying it's having a major impact on staff morale.
Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery says she'll raise the issue in State Parliament next week.
"The letter is a damning indictment on the way this Government is running our State’s health system," she said."The John Hunter Hospital is the largest regional hospital in the state. It needs to be resourced appropriately."
"It is always concerning for me to hear that staff are not having their complaints adequately addressed by HNEH and that there is a culture of silencing and fear implicit in the workplace."
"We are hearing now about a situation where the largest regional hospital in NSW has doctors who are being forced to compromise patient safety because of improper equipment and inadequate resourcing."
