Doctors fearful about patient safety at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital are being "gagged", the doctors' union says, with the move to silence clinicians sparking a disagreement between the Health Minister and the hospital's management.

Key points: The union claims the memo is "threatening" in its tone and is a "gagging initiative"

The union claims the memo is "threatening" in its tone and is a "gagging initiative" The memo follows claims that the hospital is "chronically under-resourced"

The memo follows claims that the hospital is "chronically under-resourced" Health Minister Stephen Wade says the hospital has taken the wrong approach

In an internal memo sent on Thursday and obtained by the ABC, the chief executive of the Women's and Children's Local Health Network, Lindsey Gough, reminded staff of the department-wide ban on speaking to media.

"Our Network is regularly featured in the media and I encourage you all to contribute good news stories to our dedicated media team," Ms Gough wrote.

"The team is available for advice and support for any media inquiries and to help staff meet their obligations under the SA Health Media Policy Directive, which all SA Health staff are required to comply with.

"This includes seeking permission for any comments made on behalf of the Network or SA Health."

In the memo, she said any comment which identified someone as a public sector employee should be done in line with the Public Sector Code of Ethics.

"This states that public sector employees will only make public comment in relation to their duties, the public sector or the Government — including policy and programs — when specifically authorised to do so," she wrote.

Ms Gough said the code helped to maintain the "integrity and public confidence in the public service".

"It further ensures that we maintain the reputation of our organisation, our clinicians and our staff; and that we safeguard patient and consumer confidentiality," she said.

Doctors' union says 'they will not be gagged'

South Australian Salaried Medical Officers Association senior industrial officer Bernadette Mulholland said the letter was "threatening" in its tone, and had been circulated at the same time the union put a call out to doctors to participate in a public awareness campaign about issues at the hospital.

Ms Mulholland said doctors are concerned and frightened for their jobs. ( ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton )

"We saw this note that went out as a gagging initiative by the Women's and Children's Hospital to stop them from making the public aware of what their concerns are," she said.

"We were surprised by the action taken [and] the doctors were frightened for their jobs, and the repercussions that this might have for them, but we're still going ahead with what we are planning.

"Although they are concerned, they will not be gagged."

Last week it was revealed more than 200 doctors had signed a letter to the Women's and Children's Hospital's chief executive, outlining major concerns about staff shortages and resourcing.

In a statement sent to the ABC, Ms Gough said the bulletin was sent to all hospital staff and was not aimed at any one staff member or group.

"We regularly remind staff of policies, responsibilities and processes through a variety of our communications methods," she said.

"We are always supportive of our staff and their rights to raise their concerns, and are always willing to have open discussions around any issues."

Hospital has taken the wrong approach, Minister says

Health Minister Stephen Wade said he "was not happy with the statement" from the chief executive, and believed the hospital had taken the wrong approach in responding to the concerns of its staff.

"I've stood up for the right for clinicians to speak to the union, to speak publicly, and I've stood up for the right of clinicians to speak both in Opposition and in Government," he said.

Mr Wade said he thought the hospital had taken the wrong approach. ( ABC News: Ben Pettit )

"I'm not happy with the statement by Women's and Children's Hospital.

"We will continue to stand up for the rights of clinicians to express their views."

Shadow Health Minister Chris Picton said Mr Wade needed to take more drastic action to ensure doctors felt secure.

"The Minister needs to take action to rescind this order, and make sure that doctors don't feel threatened and intimidated in terms of speaking up about the concerns," he said.

"Ultimately, the Minister is the one that has the power to address the serious issues. For the Minister to just say, 'I don't really like this email,' isn't good enough.

"He's the one in charge and he should be taking action to make sure that these doctors aren't intimidated under his watch."