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Professor John Wilson
A leading respiratory physician has quit Victoria’s public hospital system in protest at mounting staff burnout and deteriorating conditions after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professor John Wilson says he has grave concerns over the wellbeing of doctors and other staff in the state’s hospitals, saying standards are being compromised amid increased demand.
The outgoing RACP president and head of the CF service at Melbourne’s Alfred Health until his resignation a week ago, he had worked in the public system for 30 years.
He said he had been forced to step down to blow the whistle on the lack of resources and excessive expectations placed on individual doctors.
“This decision came out of frustration,” he told the recent RACP 2022 Congress.
“I love my patients and I love my team and don’t wish to move away from that, however we have been asked to commit to levels of care that we are unable to achieve.
“I held my breath for as long as I could but I’m sorry, someone had to make a stand.”
With the pandemic now in its third year, health worker fatigue and burnout were now reaching crisis levels, Professor Wilson said.
He pointed to figures from an RACP survey published in November 2021 showing 87% of members were concerned over the effect of burnout on their careers.
“That is outrageous. That should not be the case,” he said.
“These members of our college should be proud of the work they do, not having to think about burnout, about early retirement, resignation or moving into other positions.”