Hospital defends record after critical safety report
FEAR CUTBACKS COULD LEAD TO COMPLICATIONS DURING SURGERY
Irish Daily Mail which had obtained a copy of the risk assessment reports.
In addition to physiotherapists the hospital is suffering from a shortage of maternity staff. There was also a shortage of staff to fill in for employees who were on long-term sick leave.
The documents said the issues had the potential to have a serious impact in the hospital.
The hospital spokesperson said it currently employed a clinical nurse specialist in the stroke division.
Wexford hospital is taking part in a Stroke Clinical Care Programme and a Stroke Multi-disciplinary team had been established.
Like many other hospitals, Wexford General has been beset with problems caused by the moratorium on staff recruitment.
It was revealed in this newspaper earlier in the summer that the new showpiece Emergency Department is unable to operate its specailist paediatric unit because of a staff shortage
‘We are looking for an additional nine staff and two consultants,’ said Wexford Councillor Ger Carthy, who called for a council delegation to press the case with health minister Leon Varadker for staff levels to be increased as a metter of urgency.
Conceding that the paediatric unit was not yet fully up and running, the HSE said Wexford General Hospital ‘ has submitted a business case for paediatric staff which, if successful, will enable the opening of the paediatric section of the new ED’.
Asked to respond to the risk assessment report, the HSE said Wexford General Hospital assures the public that at all times, patient safety is the hospital’s priority and that the hospital has a solid record as a safe provider of health care to the people of the Co. Wexford area.
‘Wexford General Hospital, like all acute hospitals, utilises a risk register which is a management tool designed to ensure that any potential issues are identified and alerted to management so that an action plan is put in place to manage and minimise the risk.
‘ The register identifies issues/risks, the actions being taken to manage them and who is responsible. This is part of normal management procedures in many organisations and is designed to be a proactive approach to managing an organisation’s operational risks.
It said patient safety is the first priority in decision making at WGH.
‘We are required to have due regard to budget and remaining within parameters but safety is the first priority. The equipment referred to in the risk register is properly maintained by qualified personnel and does not present a risk to patient safety. The fact that a generic product is in use required it to be placed on the register. The risk is rated 6 which is has probability rating of 1%, categorised as rare remote and impact negligible.
In regard to items specifically raised in the Daily Mail’s report, it should be noted that:
Cardiac equipment has now been replaced at WGH and the item removed from its Risk Register. WEXFORD General Hospital has defended its record following reports that cutbacks in the quality of surgical instruments could lead to complications during surgery.
According to a risk assessment by clinicians at the hospital, cheap replacement light bulbs fitted to endoscopes could fail during operations.
The hospital’s risk register reveals that staff raised concerns over the endoscopes twice during the past year.
In reponse, the hospital said patient safety was paramount and that the items referred to in the assessment were of an industry standard and closely monitored.
According to the assessment ‘ there was a risk of complications due to light bulb source for endoscopes as generic bulbs, that have no hourly counter, are currently being used rather than the recommended bulbs as a cost containment measure’.
A hospital spokesperson said there was a process in place to monitor the lifetime and safety of lighting and that the bulbs being used were of industry standard and were replaced by engineers before their expiry.
Problems at Wexford in relation to recruiting key staff are also noted.
A senior podiatry post was approved in 2001, however, National Recruitment Services were unable to fill the post from a national panel.
In June this year, a basic grade podiatrist was acquired through an agency to fill the position until it can be permanently filled.
The hospital currently has 270 diabetic patients on a waiting list to see a podiatrist, whose services are particularly important to diabetics as they lower the risks of several foot-related conditions.
Another staffing issue raised is the lack of a dedicated stroke physiotherapist and the low numbers of physiotherapy staff resulting in ‘gross failure to meet the National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke (2009).
The issues were highlitghted at the weekend by the