Page 4029 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 26 November 2014
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The ACT AMA has also expressed its support for the service maintaining accreditation. Dr Liz Gallagher, who is an obstetrician and gynaecologist in Canberra, has very much endorsed the management response to the concerns that have been raised and is urging both senior and junior doctors to come together on some of these matters.
In discussions with the director-general the department has commissioned two external reviews. One of them is on rostering practices in the O&G department and will look at the allegations around workload, skill mix and staffing levels. The review is being undertaken by representatives sourced from RANZCOG and the completed report is expected this calendar year. The second review will provide an independent examination of the clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction and is being undertaken by Women’s Healthcare Australasia, again with a finalised report also expected this calendar year.
With the work that has been done to date, there is no evidence to suggest that any adverse or negative patient outcomes have resulted from some of the issues that have been raised, largely by junior medical staff. This is supported by recent ACHS benchmarking data.
It is also important to put on the record that, in relation to feedback on the unit from patients, the comments or complaints the department has received have decreased by 30 per cent, from 199 in 2012-13 to 140 in 2013-14. The number of compliments has increased by 93 per cent, from 323 in 2012-13 to 623 in 2013-14. This is not an insignificant fact and, again, speaks to the quality of care that is being provided at that unit.
Support for staff is being provided to those who have come forward expressing concerns about stress. The Canberra Hospital is also working with Calvary and Queanbeyan hospitals to look at ways to better manage demand for birthing services across the ACT and the region. There certainly has been an issue this year with Calvary referring numbers of women to Canberra Hospital, which has compounded the demand, and we are negotiating with them for those women to be managed appropriately and safely at Calvary, as they can be.
In terms of recruitment, all positions are recruited for the 2015 training year, in line with the internal training program placements. In addition, two senior registrars have been recruited for 2015. This is new for 2015. In the past only one senior registrar has been engaged. There have also been two unaccredited registrars and four senior resident medical officers recruited for 2015. Recruitment planning to appoint the professor is currently underway, with interviews scheduled for later this year.
The clinical director of the O&G department has indicated he will not be continuing in the role from the end of this year. He will continue within the department as a senior clinician. I do thank him for his leadership over the past four years and for the decision that he has taken to stand aside while some of these issues are being worked through. He is a leading clinician and Canberra is lucky to have him at the Canberra Hospital, offering those clinical skills to women and babies across the region.
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