Doctors Insisting On Time For Quality Improvement

ATTENTION: HEALTH REPORTER NO. OF PAGES: 1

MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,
MONDAY 11 APRIL 2005

Senior Doctors Insisting On Time For Quality Improvement

“Senior doctors employed by district health boards will be insisting on having sufficient time for quality improvement activities following the settlement of their new national collective agreement,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today. This subject is covered in more detail in the latest issue of the Association’s quarterly publication, The Specialist (also available on www.asms.org.nz)

“The national collective agreement expressly recognises that senior doctors need sufficient time for quality improvement activities, such as peer review, clinical audit and teaching. It allows them to keep up to date with clinical developments. This is critical for ensuring high standards of patient care; without sufficient time standards of care risk being compromised.”

“Unfortunately over the years some health bureaucrats have given lip service to the importance of quality improvement in our health system but denied senior doctors the key resource that they need for it – time. However, the national collective agreement gives great strength to the ability to overcome any short-sighted managerial obstruction.”

“Patients are the biggest beneficiary when senior doctors have sufficient time for quality improvement activities and we expect all district health boards to ensure that they receive it. Those that don’t should expect a hard fight with their angry senior doctors and can expect to be named and shamed accordingly,” concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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