Flinders Medical Centre gastro outbreak followed directive to free up ED space by moving contagious patients
A GASTRO outbreak at Flinders Medical Centre has occurred just weeks after an internal memo told clinical staff to move potentially contagious patients into general wards to free up space in the overflowing emergency department.
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A GASTRO outbreak at Flinders Medical Centre has occurred just weeks after an internal memo told clinical staff to move potentially contagious patients into general wards to free up space in the overflowing emergency department.
The leaked memo, distributed on September 18, instructs staff to move patients out of the ED even though it “may include working outside the normal infection control parameters”.
The memo also instructed staff to move potentially violent mental health patients into open wards with a guard.
The norovirus outbreak was confirmed on Thursday by health authorities, with both patients and staff affected.
The outbreak started over a week ago.
Former head of department at Flinders Medical Centre Professor Warren Jones said it was concerning the outbreak coincided with the decision to bypass standard infection control procedure.
“The instructions to SA Health staff to reduce waiting times in EDs by moving infectious patients and violent mental health patients to open wards is unethical and unsafe,’’ he said.
“ Hospitals are being forced to do this to avoid fines imposed by SA Health.
“We have to question why a Government Department fines it self for poor performance. This is just papering over the cracks.
“We need urgent and definitive solutions and this means … more beds.”
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