Dear @JennyMikakos : thanks for presser. Just wanted to comment about you being "flabbergasted" that the doctor worked. Agree that it's not good but wanted to tell you why. There is no sick leave cover for most doctors. 1/n
2/n If I am sick, I usually still work unless I am physically unable to get there because all my outpatients will get cancelled OR my colleague has to see double. Doing double work is hard. Even less chance of getting lunch than usual. No chance of leaving on time.
3/n patients are angry with you because you are running late (remember, seeing double the booked patients.) You do things faster. You might make an error. You probably finish 2 or 3 hours late and your overtime is not paid of course cos overtime is never paid.
4/n my junior doctors that I supervise are also working with no support. This is stressful for them and they can make a mistake. The could ring my colleague in outpatients, who's under a lot of duress. But they won't.
5/n this also means that many patients on our list won't be seen by a consultant doctor during their hospital stay. This is why sick leave rates are around 0.5% for doctors and 5% for nurses. The 4.5% difference is doctors working while sick.
If I am a GP #notjustaGP I am a contractor and my sick leave is not paid at all, full stop. If I get #coronavirus at work, very likely, my 2 weeks quarantine is without pay but my expenses are the same.
6/6 I hope you get to read this Minister @JennyMikakos and @VictorianCHO and address this issue of doctors feeling unable to take sick leave due to systemic, not personal, failings. I hope you are less surprised now that doctors keep on working #coronavirusaus
While I have the #medtwitter floor, this is also part of the reason for such high rates of burnout and depression in #doctors #MH4docs @JennyMikakos @VictorianCHO beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-s… @beyondblue
