Young UWV doctors in training in Amsterdam are sounding the alarm. The workload is too high and they feel downright unsafe. There is said to be a culture of fear, while the medical training of the UWV benefits agency is already under increased supervision.
John van den Oetelaar, Julia Bokdam
This is evident from research by EenToday and this site. Doctors describe a culture of fear with too little room to learn the profession. The professional association of UWV insurance doctors Novag has already sent several letters to UWV about the situation in the Amsterdam region.
Vice-chairman Mirko Bal states that the problems are not limited to Amsterdam, although there are also regions where things are going well. “The Novag board believes that there are not only signals of insecurity and intimidation. We are particularly concerned about abuse of power.”
The Registration Committee for Medical Specialists (RGS) is conducting new research into quality and safety in response to signals at several UWV locations. The RGS is about the recognition of UWV training.
One of the many sources in this investigation, who prefers to remain anonymous: “Everything shows that there is a culture of fear and intimidation by the management. We have crying colleagues on the work floor. I think the word toxic is appropriate here.”
In the office in Amsterdam, doctors were emphatically urged not to report to a confidential counselor or to the professional association.
Work pressure is enormous due to waiting lists
Doctors at UWV process applications for benefits such as WIA. People and files are assessed for this purpose. The young doctors are burdened by the heavy workload due to the enormous waiting lists at UWV.
But, says Novag, they must also be given the time to be properly trained. One of the young doctors: “Training is under pressure and production takes precedence. If you spend time on training, you have to make up for that time.”
Doctors in training at UWV cannot simply leave. From contracts that EenToday and viewed this site, it appears that there is a fine of up to 70,000 euros that must be paid to UWV. That is why many doctors only stop after two years, after completing their training, or this is actually a reason not to start.
The UWV training course has been under increased supervision for a year by the Registration Committee for Medical Specialists (RGS), which can suspend or even withdraw recognition for the training.
Suffering incalculable
If the recognition for the training is withdrawn, the suffering will be incalculable. “There needs to be outside intervention to change this,” says a doctor from the Amsterdam region.
UWV desperately needs the generally young doctors. They currently make up almost half of the doctors employed by the benefits agency, in Amsterdam, for example, 60 percent.
A spokesperson for UWV said in a response that the agency takes the signals very seriously. Minister Vijlbrief of Social Affairs and Employment says: “We immediately contacted UWV about this. I recently instructed the Board of Directors to improve the organizational culture.”
According to the UWV spokesperson, a plan is now being drawn up for this, with specific attention to the working culture of the insurance doctors.
See also: broadcast EenVandaag, Friday April 24, 6:30 PM, NPO 1.
