Page 4027 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 26 November 2014
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In Mr Hanson’s speech today—and he has done it a number of times here—he uses the figure “13 doctors resigned”. I have been looking at the separation data for obstetrics and gynaecology from 2009 to 2014 and there is not one single year when 13 doctors have resigned. Indeed, the most separations that we have had are: nine in 2009, four in 2010, four in 2011, eight in 2012, six in 2013 and 12 in 2014. Of those, a large number of the ones that Mr Hanson now scoffs at were related to end of contract terminations.
In 2012 and 2014, ACT Health undertook some culture surveys within the unit. This was to map the changes and to make sure that the measures that had been introduced were on the right track. Certainly the results from this—and I was briefed earlier this year on those—showed improvements of anywhere between 19 and 50 per cent and a very high level of staff engagement: in 2012, 108 staff participated; in 2014, 183 staff participated. This is seen as an indicator of more positive engagement from staff with what is going on in the department. These surveys did, however, highlight the need for continued focus on culture, and that was certainly part of the response to those surveys—which is a very appropriate one—from management.
In terms of growth and demand for the service, it is clear that families across Canberra and the region have a very high level of confidence in the maternity services provided at Canberra Hospital. This has been clearly seen in the number of women coming to the hospital for treatment, including bypassing their local hospital in order to be seen at Canberra Hospital. There were 2,743 births in 2010-11. That was up to 3,252 births in the last financial year. Again, that shows, I think, the level of clinical care and the services that are being offered within that unit.
In terms of the model of care which was touched on, the building was designed for those who are well enough, well women who have well babies, to be discharged early. We agreed, when we were getting complaints on that, that it had been a model of care that was developed by various stakeholders and that in response to feedback we should have a look at that model of care. A review was undertaken. It highlighted that a safe and effective service exists within the Canberra Hospital maternity unit. It did have a number of recommendations. Five recommendations were made and these were all accepted in full or in principle. These recommendations have been implemented or actioned and are being monitored on an ongoing basis through the maternity leadership group.
In relation to the RANZCOG report, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists are responsible for the accredited training program that is offered to the medical staff. This training program is an adjunct to the clinical service delivery and high quality care offered within the hospital. The RANZCOG report is part of a regular accreditation process that all specialties within a tertiary facility undergo. ACT Health was aware of some of the concerns within the Canberra Hospital obstetrics and gynaecology unit. I received an anonymous letter on 11 September that was referred immediately to the director-general. On receiving that, ACT Health contacted the college and raised these concerns with them prior to their scheduled accreditation review in September 2014. They were fully apprised of the issues that had been raised by the junior medical staff, in large part, and the college attended with that information in mind.
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