Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital has been accused of gagging staff raising safety concerns.

Chief executive of the Women's and Children's Local Health Network, Lindsey Gough, recently sent a memo reminded staff of a 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, according to the ABC.

“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.”

She said any comments that identify someone as a public sector employee must conform to 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,” Ms Gough wrote.

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

The state’s doctors’ union, the South Australian Salaried Medical Officers Association, says the memo was released at the same time as doctors were participating in a public awareness campaign about issues at the hospital.

“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,” the union’s senior industrial officer Bernadette Mulholland 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.”

Health Minister Stephen Wade said the hospital has 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.

“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 the government must ensure doctors feel 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.”