Doctors and allied health professionals to walk off job en masse amid pay disputes

Doctors and allied health professionalsare striking today, calling for better conditions and pay. ( ABC News: Gabriela Rahardja )

Doctors and allied health professionals are undertaking industrial action, stopping work today to protest stalled pay deals.

Doctors are downing tools for four hours, while allied health professionals are on strike for 24 hours, as government negotiations with both cohorts stretch out for more than a year.

Health Minister Ingrid Stitt says discussions with the Australian Medical Association on securing a deal are ongoing.

Doctors and allied health professionals at Victoria's public hospitals have walked off the job today, as year-long bargaining processes with the government over pay and conditions remain at a standstill.

Doctors across the state will undertake a four-hour work stoppage from 3:30pm to 7:30pm, while allied health professionals will strike for a full 24 hours.

Hospital emergency departments will be excluded from the work stoppage, with staffing across hospitals remaining at Saturday levels to protect patient safety and welfare.

The Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA) said exemptions to the stop work would apply in certain sectors such as emergency care, neo-natal, maternity and paediatric patients, and units with high dependency patients such as oncology, coronary and palliative care to ensure patients are not affected.

本文の著作権はABC Australiaにあります。