Theatres still closed
Elective surgery lists at West Gippsland Hospital will remain cancelled over the next month.
The hospital’s two operating theatres, shut down last month because of a contamination fear, will remain closed for all of June.
On the flipside, Neerim District Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital performed a record number of surgeries during May, of which 14 per cent were relocated public surgeries from WGH.
When WGH’s two operating theatres were shut down in early May following the detection of microbacteria in the theatres, NDSMH made its operating facilities available.
Neerim District Health Service chief executive officer Kate Graham said the record level of surgery at the hospital was largely due to an increase in public cataracts from Latrobe Regional Hospital and relocated surgeries from WGH.
Ms Graham said while NDHS had offered to absorb more of the cancelled surgeries from WGH, she said no ongoing arrangement had been made.
“There has been no request to take on more public elective surgeries from Warragul,” she said.
West Gippsland Healthcare Group chief executive officer Dan Weeks said WGH was continuing to run only obstetric and life and limb emergencies.
He said an emergency procedure room had been established to deal with emergencies and high-risk procedures where it was too dangerous to transfer a patient.
Mr Weeks said WGH was continuing to transfer elective procedures to Monash and Casey while Neerim, Leongatha and Bass Coast had all absorbed surgical transfers.
“Our focus is on category one patients where surgery has to be done within 30 days,” he said.
Mr Weeks said they expected to recommence surgical procedures early in July and a date would be confirmed as soon as possible.
Ms Graham said 248 operations were performed at NDSMH in May, comprising cataracts, endoscopy, dental, urology, gynaecology and general surgery.
“We have been pleased to provide assistance to Warragul hospital and are proud of how our theatre nursing and support staff rose to the occasion to deal with already busy operating lists.
“NDHS has been focused on raising our clinical capabilities and extending the services offered at the hospital over the past 18 months. “We greatly appreciate the recognition and growing support for our efforts by the wider health network in Gippsland.
“We continue discussions with local and citybased surgeons regarding several potential new service offerings and look forward to optimising the use of our spacious, well equipped and recently re-accredited operating theatre,” she said.
Ms Graham said NDSMH did 1000 cataract operations each year from WGH and LRH of which 62 per cent were public patients and 38 per cent were private or self-funded.
Mr Weeks said they were doing everything they could to fast track re-opening WGH theatres. He said the renovation problems were unforeseen, saying in an old building cracks had appeared during works.
“It should be completely airtight and sealed. Our room wasn’t sealed. There were obvious signs and the air sampling failed.
“We hate not being available to the community, especially obstetrics when they have spent months knowing their care plan.
Mr Weeks said theatres would remain closed this month while all the internal surfaces are stripped and replaced with new vinyl, new ceilings and fittings.
“This is to prevent a repeat of the failed air testing when the internal integrity of theatres was insufficient to prevent contamination during the building works,” he said.