VHIA and AMA Victoria / ASMOF Victoria have completed an implementation guide that directs hospitals to limit DiT hours to 13 hours in one day, down from 14. Further - a doctor can only be rostered to work more than 12.5 hours on 2 consecutive days.
There are two important exceptions for these new arrangements.
Firstly, Health Services can roster Registrars to work more than 13 hours where there are “exceptional circumstances”.
Secondly, where a Health Service has an existing rosters that require a doctor to work more than 2 consecutive days at 13 or less hours per day then the Health Service can continue that roster.
If a Health Service intends to use either of the two exceptions then the Health Service must advise doctors in writing.
We are available to assist in instances where you observe that these provisions are being exploited improperly by your hospital. For roster queries relating to these new changes, we encourage members to contact us at [email protected] rather than via our usual channels.