Pt had become more, complaint from the ward had become more… admission become more, but our pay remain the same, unlike the other attending doctor in the hospital – when pt amounts increase ,their ppf(proportional physician fee) become more….the financial controller had not show up in the ED hinting us about empty bed in the ward for quit some time. The locals had made our hospital first choice after the use of new building….
Lem was called up by the dept supt of admin and he was told that he would have to give up his govt clinic visit. The notice had not only affected his pay but also affect 2 of us. K and me… During the Tuesday, Lem would spent his morning in the govt clinic and on alternate week, he would visit the local nursing home down south. I covered for the morning session(4hrs x 4 ) and K covered for the afternoon session(6hrs x 2). The admin had told Lem that he would remain in the ED and K and I would have to do weekend shift to cover for the lost of working hours. I had been working 140-150 hrs instead of 180 for the past few months and further down cut would definitely affect my pay…
Apparently the govt clinic and nursing home is passed over to the new family physician. The initial negotiation was not smooth as all of us resisted the change and there was once an agreement that it would remain the same for a short while. But yesterday, Lem was called up again and told him that it was a go and we would have to settle the issue ourselves.
I had given up the Tuesday morning 4hrs and a Sunday night shift and go for a 27 hrs call. (I am still -3…) but 1 long call for a change of 4 tiresome mornings ED shift…. Not good but acceptable
The act had irritated us but still the admin is alarmed by our reaction.
W(the weekend locumer) would be reconsidering his locum after August as the Respiratory ward he is covering in K City is phasing out him. He had planned to get a job in slightly up north. The hospital is considering to hire him as night shift duty physician covering for ward during weekdays and continuing his weekend call….
Another round of negotiation….I hope it would be smooth….
