Dr. Rachel McNamara:

We say every time that we are not doing this purely so doctors can have loads of time off and holidays, although that is enormously important. This is a patient safety issue and the problem is it is not being prioritised. The objective of the 2022 agreement was to bring working hours back to legal and safe limits. It was acknowledged in the context of that agreement we needed 800 additional NCHDs to be recruited in order to roster people safely. Immediately, a recruitment embargo came into place. There is no way the agreement we brokered in 2022 can be upheld. It has demolished trust with the NCHD population, which is nearly three quarters of the doctors in the country. The Senator is absolutely right. Of course it is a contributing factor.