Hospital’s mixed report

NEARLY a third of junior doctors employed at the Townsville Hospital reported they had experienced bullying or harassment at work in an annual public hospital report card. The number of reported incidents increased 12 per cent from the previous year.

The Australian Medical Association Queensland’s annual junior doctor public hospital report card surveyed 615 doctors across the state.

Despite the rise, Townsville Hospital received a grade of Band was ranked as one of the best places to work.

AMA Queensland council of doctors in training executive committee member Dr Bav Manoharan said more than half the junior doctors said they felt concerned about reporting incidents to management.

“Of all bullying and harassment incidents that were reported over the past year, 13 per cent were allegedly perpetrated by a senior consultant, which is a sharp decline from 64 per cent in 2017,” he said.

Townsville Hospital executive director of medical servi- ces Dr Andrew Johnson said the hospital was cracking down on workplace bullying.

“This is a big conversation for the medical community, it’s one we’re having here and all around the country,” he said. “It is something that has been a challenge for a long time and our expectations as doctors have evolved.”

Dr Johnson said the hospital paid attention to the results from the report.

“I’d say we’re proud that even with all of the things we want to work on and improve, we are still coming through as the place to be,” he said.

“It’s validation. We’ve got a great group of junior doctors and it’s really nice to get that feedback, ( there’s) still some areas we need to work on.”

Resident medical officer Dr Nicole Arthy said the positive marks were not a surprise.

“I’ve been very supported and I can completely see why we’re getting the marks we’re getting in this health service,” Dr Arthy said.

“The training opportunities are really incredible – I’ve been really lucky to get rotations in critical areas that I need.

“I’ve now been accepted on to a paediatric training pathway and I couldn’t have done that without the hospital helping provide those rotations.” s.