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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 10 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 2963 ..
MRS CARNELL (continuing):
in paediatrics and supervises the management and care of the paediatric
population, which comprises about 28.5 per cent of the total number of
patients. With this complement of staff specialists it is possible to provide
on-floor supervision by a staff specialist Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to
6.00 pm, and two days a week until 10.00 pm.
Regular teaching sessions are held for junior medical officers. The specialists provide motivation and assistance to a large number of trainees, who are keen to increase their knowledge and skills in emergency medicine. There are now 12 registrars undertaking this training at the Canberra Hospital - the most there has ever been. An efficient and highly successful training program for the fellowship of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine is conducted in the department. This is reflected in the success of a registrar, Dr Glenn Arendts, who has shown his dedication and diligence by achieving the highest marks in Australasia in the emergency medicine primary examination. This success was mirrored by Dr James Fergusson, who has worked extensively in the Emergency Department. Dr Fergusson achieved the highest mark in Australasia in the surgical primary examination.
These examinations are recognised as very difficult. It is, therefore, quite extraordinary - possibly the first time ever in Australia - that we have two doctors in the one emergency department who have achieved such outstanding results. For a hospital the size of the Canberra Hospital to have two members of its medical staff achieve this level of success is an outstanding result and one of which we should all be extremely proud. This type of success will emphasise the focus on the Canberra Hospital as a training facility for emergency medicine and is confirmed by the recent success of a senior registrar, Dr Paul Cullen, who has been successful in the fellowship examination. The Canberra community at large will benefit from having a centre of excellence such as this, as it will attract high-quality doctors from all over the country, which in turn will offer continuing improvement in the quality of health care provided.
To improve cooperation between the medical staff of the Emergency Department and the divisions of surgery and medicine, regular weekly meetings between senior staff were commenced early in 1996. These meetings have proved to be very valuable and very successful, Mr Speaker. A welcome rapport has developed which enables multidisciplinary issues to be discussed and solutions to be found quickly and efficiently. This increased communication can only serve to improve patient outcomes in the department and the overall quality of patient care. Liaison with the divisions of psychiatry, paediatrics, and obstetrics and gynaecology has also increased.
The commitment made by the nursing staff towards the efficient running of the Emergency Department cannot be overlooked. Fifty per cent of the nursing staff hold a trauma nursing, critical care or emergency nursing certificate. Twenty-five per cent of nurses hold more than one certificate. The Canberra Hospital is one of the few institutions in the country that have such a high percentage of these qualifications, which makes it possibly the best qualified emergency department in Australia.
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