THE Royal Australasian College of Physicians has offered to help Maitland Hospital "address the standards" that saw its training accreditation for future physicians withdrawn late last year.
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The peak medical college banned Maitland Hospital from training doctors in "basic training in adult medicine" in November due to concerns over underpayment, excessive workload and supervision.
A spokesperson for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians' (RACP) said the welfare of their trainees, and the quality of their training, was the college's priority and had been at the forefront of the decision.
She said the RACP accreditation committee had reviewed a "number of reported issues" relating to training and trainee wellbeing and had consulted with key stakeholders including the John Hunter Basic Training Network, Maitland Hospital and trainees.
"Reviewing this decision can occur on Maitland Hospital submitting an application for re-accreditation of their adult medicine basic training program," she said. "We have offered to assist Maitland Hospital address the standards for training sites that will enable RACP to reinstate their accreditation status and the Hunter New England Network to support physician training.
"Our RACP support program is also available, and we encourage all trainees who are experiencing stress or anxiety as a result of their training, work or personal lives to reach out for support."
The spokesperson said Maitland Hospital was still accredited for basic training in paediatrics and child health as well as advanced training specialties.
In December, the college rejected an appeal to delay stripping Maitland Hospital of its training accreditation for junior doctors, and seven registrars were relocated to alternate positions within Hunter New England Health.
Chief executive of Hunter New England Health, Michael DiRienzo, said physician training was an important teaching component in the public health service and a priority for the district.
"We have been working hard to re-establish accreditation for basic physician training at Maitland Hospital, and we have already implemented a number of improvements to education, supervision and training for junior doctors over the past few months," he said.
"A clinical taskforce has been put in place to monitor these arrangements and lead a program of continuous improvement. Taskforce representatives meet weekly to ensure that any concerns are addressed as a priority."
Mr DiRienzo said a comprehensive external review of the "governance, supervision and management" of medical services at Maitland Hospital was currently underway and was due to be completed by late-March.
"Any recommendations from this review will be implemented by the district as a priority," he said. "We intend to re-establish a training program as soon as possible. A roster of suitably trained junior doctors remains in place at Maitland Hospital, and patients continue to receive high quality care."