In a notable demonstration of discontent, a significant number of doctors from Ballarat and Bendigo have halted work, attributing their actions to feelings of burnout, unfavorable working conditions, and diminished morale. This strike marks the first such occurrence in two decades among Victorian medical professionals.
The Australian Medical Association Victoria (AMAV) has highlighted that, after prolonged negotiations lasting a year, public hospital doctors have yet to receive a formal proposal regarding industrial relations or an enterprise bargaining agreement from the state government. Grampians Health, which oversees the Ballarat Base Hospital, along with Bendigo Health, acknowledged the doctors’ right to engage in protected industrial action.
Today, medical staff from both the Ballarat Base Hospital and Bendigo Health, two prominent healthcare facilities in regional Victoria, participated in a four-hour work stoppage. They cited overwhelming fatigue, low morale, and challenging working environments as reasons for their decision, with some doctors expressing they are nearing their breaking point.
This strike is part of a broader trend of escalating industrial actions aimed at improving working conditions. Recent reports have indicated that the Ballarat and Bendigo hospitals are among five in regional Victoria facing systemic challenges, including long emergency department wait times.
According to AMAV president Simon Judkins, the state has seen three different health ministers in the past year, yet no tangible offers have emerged during this timeframe. Judkins criticized the state government’s approach, particularly regarding the redevelopment of Ballarat Base Hospital, arguing that mere construction will not resolve the staffing issues at hand. “The new build won’t solve the problem. It’s staffing that will solve the problems,” he stated. “Buildings can’t perform surgeries.”
The planned redevelopment of Ballarat Base Hospital includes enhancements such as a new emergency department and an additional 100 inpatient and short-stay beds, expected to be completed by late 2027. However, Judkins emphasized the urgent need for immediate improvements to alleviate current pressures faced by doctors. “We hear from our doctors repeatedly about the stress of working in public hospitals, the excessive length of shifts, the number of night shifts, and the fatigue they experience,” he remarked. “We want safe working conditions for our doctors so they can care for our patients.”
Dr. Katie Lyng, a resident doctor in Ballarat, echoed these sentiments, advocating for better shift structures and protected breaks to enhance operational efficiency. “Everything would run smoother if we had protected breaks, good shift lengths,” she said. “We are tired of the situation.”
Junior doctor Christian McCaffrey from Grampians Health expressed that while he is passionate about his work, the current demands have become overwhelming. He noted that many doctors are working beyond their scheduled hours, often without breaks or even basic necessities such as water. “The Victorian government is taking our sense of duty of care to our patients for granted,” he warned, highlighting the pressure to discharge patients quickly to free up beds in emergency departments.
Recent statistics revealed that approximately 3,300 patients were admitted to emergency departments across Victoria from January to March, with many waiting over 24 hours for treatment, predominantly in regional hospitals like Ballarat and Bendigo. The health department’s target is to have zero patients exceeding the 24-hour threshold in emergency care.
Dr. Joel Findlay, a second-year doctor at Bendigo Health, shared his experience of exhaustion and the significant pressures of the job. “You haven’t eaten in three hours; you’re torn between multiple tasks, and everything goes wrong at the same time,” he described.
A spokesperson for Grampians Health stated their respect for the doctors’ rights to take industrial action, emphasizing the dedication and professionalism of their medical staff. They assured that extensive planning has been undertaken to manage the impact of the strike and to ensure critical services remain available.
The spokesperson further added that while the redevelopment of Ballarat Base Hospital is expected to yield long-term benefits, immediate actions are also being implemented to enhance patient flow. In response to the ongoing situation, a representative from the Victorian Health Minister noted that the current government has made significant strides in primary care but acknowledged that more efforts are required to facilitate access to healthcare services for Victorians.
Meanwhile, Bendigo Health reiterated its commitment to respecting employee rights while focusing on maintaining safe and continuous patient care throughout the industrial action.
