By XAVIER SMERDON
AUSTRALIA’S peak medical body has written to management at Werribee Mercy Hospital calling on them to provide details about a controversial decision not to renew several well respected doctors’ contracts.
As revealed exclusively by Star last week, doctors who have worked with the hospital for more than 25 years were shocked when they were told that the hospital could no longer afford their services and would not renew their contracts.
President of the Australian Medical Association’s Victorian branch, Dr Stephen Parnis, said he was waiting for hospital management to reveal more details of the decision.
“It has come to the attention of AMA Victoria that several long standing medical staff at the Werribee Mercy will not have their contracts renewed due to budgetary constraints,” Dr Parnis said.
“AMA has written to the Hospital Manager of Werribee Mercy seeking more detail on the hospitals plan for the engagement of senior medical staff.”
Dr Parnis said Ted Baillieu had made it clear in statements regarding budget cuts that staff providing “frontline services” would not be affected.
“AMA Victoria has asked that any changes with the potential to impact on medical staff are made in good faith consultation with senior medical staff collectively,” he said.
“In seeking detail about the engagement of senior medical staff, AMA Victoria’s primary concern remains the hospital’s ability to provide high quality services to its patients.
“AMAV is awaiting response from the hospital.”
But Werribee stalwart Dr Claude Calandra, who has delivered more than 12,000 babies, defended the hospital.
“The hospital is trying to do its best in very difficult financial circumstances. Whenever there is a change of the system there will be casualties,” Dr Calandra told Star.
“It saddens me that some doctors are finishing but it’s not the fault of the hospital, it’s the fault of the financial system.”
Dr Calandra said his contract with the hospital was being honoured.
Wyndham Mayor Kim McAliney said that Wyndham’s growing population was adding pressures to the hospital staff.
“Our primary concern is that services are maintained to the 70 babies being born in Wyndham every week and their mothers,” Cr McAliney told Star.
“I have concerns that we don’t have a full time paediatrician working in Wyndham.”
