Excessive Hours Impact Doctor Wellbeing
A new report indicates that one in three doctors in NSW public hospitals are contemplating resignation due to excessive working hours. This finding highlights a growing concern within the state's healthcare system.
The report, conducted by the UTS School of Public Health's Dr Sarah Wise, surveyed over 2,500 NSW public hospital doctors, marking the largest survey of its kind. It reveals that over half of the doctors worked more than 50 hours in the previous week, with a significant portion exceeding 70 hours.
The excessive workload has taken a toll on the health and wellbeing of nearly two-thirds of respondents, with 69% admitting to working while sick or injured. only 16.1% of doctors feel their workload is manageable.
Senior doctors, known as Staff Specialists, do not receive overtime compensation, no matter how many extra hours they work. Although junior doctors are eligible for overtime, less than half claim it due to pressure to under-report hours.
One in three frontline doctors are considering leaving their positions, and over half are contemplating reducing their hours. Among doctors in training, 37.9% are considering leaving NSW or Australia altogether.
Doctors Voice Concerns Over Conditions
Medical Registrar Dr Isaac Wade expressed no surprise at these findings, citing his own experiences over five years in the system. "My colleagues and I are regularly working over 10 days in a row, with barely any opportunities for rest or even leave for training and education," he said.
ASMOF NSW President Dr Nicholas Spooner pointed out that chronic underinvestment is affecting patient care. "The frontline doctors who keep our health system running are making life or death decisions without the resources they need," he stated.
The report aligns with findings from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, showing that NSW has the lowest per-capita investment in public health across Australia.
Last updated: 21 May 2026, 9:35 am
