Managerialism in a health crisis

Karen Willis and Natasha Smallwood do us a service in highlighting the extent of burnout in our healthcare workers (“Care trauma”, September 25–October 1). That the system is at breaking point makes harrowing reading, as are demands on front-line workers who increasingly feel at risk. That “hazard pay” is controversial is distressing. As the authors suggest, staff did not simply “sign up” for this. As a community, I’d suggest we too did not really sign up for a health system that values “efficiencies” over staff and patient care.

Nor did we sign up for the inequities that a managerial ethos has delivered in every other sector, where “service” is subordinated to profit and where “managers” with conflicts of interest override expertise. It’s no wonder the workforce is exhausted at doing more with less. The vision we need from leaders is one that is willing to recognise the moral injury arising from such inappropriate systems that dictate poor outcomes. The neoliberal experiment has failed the community.

– Gil Anaf, Norwood, SA

Letters are welcome:

letters@thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Please include your full name and address and a daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited for length and content, and may be published in print and online. Letters should not exceed 150 words.