Pittwater Life September 2019 Issue

WHAT WENT
WRONG?:
NB Hospital.
“We also understand that, regardless
of the apportionment of blame, there
was a failure in the early days of the
Hospital where it did not meet the community’s
or our own high expectations.
For that, we apologise, and since the
initial period we have directed all our
efforts into putting things right, with a
focus on continuous improvement.”
NSW Health’s Dr Nigel Lyons submitted
that after operational issues arose
following the opening, his department
acted to support Healthscope’s resolution
of these matters. Examples included
Junior Medical Officer (JMO) staffing (including
staffing levels; clinical handover;
workload; and rostering practices).
“In response to the findings...
Healthscope together with NSW Health...
implemented a suite of interventions
including enhancing staffing levels and
after-hours rostering to improve workload
distribution and support the JMO
workforce,” he said.
Patient flow and supply and logistics
were also identified as areas of concern.
“NSW Health made a senior nurse
manager available to work on site with
NBH Emergency Department staff for
four weeks to review and improve flow
processes,” Dr Lyons said.
“Concerns were raised about stock
levels for high volume items and the
availability of specific items... NSW
Health offered assistance to Healthscope
to enhance the supply chain and
support NBH with ordering and logistics
arrangements.”
But the General Secretary of the NSW
Nurses and Midwives Association, Brett
Holmes, submitted that ongoing issues
remained.
“The level of care and services
currently being provided at NBH are
generally seen as being less than that
provided previously at Manly and Mona
Vale Hospitals, both qualitatively in the
view of members and statistically based
on data available from the Bureau of
Health Information,” he said.
“Staffing was and remains a critical
issue. A lack of staffing, poor skills
mix, and a disproportionate reliance
on casual and agency staff is causing
significant issues, impacting on clinical
care and the provision of a safe working
environment for nurses and midwives.”
Many of the submissions received
were from patients who related their
first-hand experiences, with 13 individuals
praising the hospital and its staff.
Mrs Marilyn Smith wrote she had been
to the hospital six times since it opened;
her conclusion being: “... once the staff
issues and organisation in the wards
comes up to standard, I will have no hesitation
in going to the Northern Beaches
hospital for a long or short stay.”
The Inquiry resumes on September 23.
– Nigel Wall
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
SEPTEMBER 2019 7