Doctors condemn NSW Health letter threatening careers and blaming them for fatigue
Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation Media Release 21st May 2026
ASMOF NSW – The Doctors Union has condemned a letter from NSW Health hospital administration to doctors, threatening their careers and blaming them for fatigue and their attempts to manage unsustainable workloads, saying it is symptomatic of a broader attitude to doctors right across the health system.
The letter (attached below), which was sent to doctors at Nepean Hospital, criticised them for taking sick leave and requesting roster changes, and made veiled threats that doctors struggling with unsustainable workload and severe fatigue should leave the profession.
The final paragraph of the letter said: “Your careers will be hopefully long .. please come and make contact if you are struggling now as it’s not a great indicator for longevity in the profession if you are already feeling the strain from rosters which are absolutely standard in health” – NSW Health hospital administration
ASMOF NSW President Dr Nicholas Spooner said the letter and its sentiments were inappropriate and beyond the standards expected of a public service employer.
“NSW Health does not place any maximum limit on the number of hours a doctor can work in a day. A bus driver is legislatively prohibited from working more than 12 hours a day. The attitudes demonstrated in this email make NSW Hospitals less safe.
“Doctors working in the NSW hospitals face excessive working hours, up to 17 hours a day, often back-to-back days for up to two weeks. They deserve safe workplaces and sustainable workloads, grounded in professional, respectful communication free from threats and insults.”
Dr Spooner said the psychosocial pressure on doctors caused by NSW Health’s failure to recruit and retain doctors in NSW and to properly manage fatigue across the health system was having a severe impact on doctors’ lives and risked compromising the quality of care provided to patients.
“We know that at least nine doctors have committed suicide in NSW since 2016, and that figure is likely higher.
“The suicide rate for women doctors in Australia is two and a half times higher compared with the population.
“Research from the Black Dog Institute has indicated that doctors who work more than 55 hours a week have double the risk of mental health problems and suicidal ideation compared with those working fewer hours.
“Given that we know excessive work, unsustainable working hours and fatigue are taking a devastating toll on doctors, it is not appropriate that NSW Health would seek to shift the blame for these systemic problems onto individual doctors themselves, often with tragic consequences.”
Dr Spooner said that the most concerning element of this letter was that it was indicative of a broader internal culture and attitude toward doctors inside NSW Health.
“Sadly, this incident is indicative of the blame-shifting attitude NSW Health maintains toward doctors on fatigue management and unsafe hours, which we witnessed at John Hunter Hospital in January last year.
“Doctors undertake many hard years of study and training in order to provide the best possible care to their patients, to whose welfare they are deeply dedicated.
“They are already making incredible personal sacrifices to hold the broken NSW Health system together, which is replete with problems they do not create.
“That invaluable service should be honoured and respected by their employer, NSW Health.
“This letter to doctors must be rescinded and an immediate apology issued by NSW Health to those who received it.
“We call on NSW Premier Chris Minns and Health Minister Ryan Park to ensure, for the benefit of both patients and doctors, that safe working hours are implemented in public hospitals and doctors are treated with the respect they deserve.”
