Modbury Hospital’s ED director quits over Transforming Health

THE head clinician of Modbury Hospital’s Emergency Department has quit in frustration as the Transforming Health reforms downgrade the hospital in a move clinicians say will raise risks to patients.

One of Adelaide's doctors has come out with negative comments re the Modbury Hospital. [PIC] Modbury Hospital pic by Bianca De Marchi - 17.7.15

• Modbury Hospital downgrade begins as reform changes start
• Transforming Health plan ‘may lead to heart deaths at QE Hospital’
• Noarlunga Hospital to lose 29-bed ward under Transforming Health

THE clinical director of Modbury Hospital’s emergency depart­ment has resigned in frustration over the Transforming Health changes now downgrading the hospital.

Dr Dewald Behrens is the most senior clinician to quit over the changes.

His decision follows a letter from senior clinicians at Modbury last month warning Health Minister Jack Snelling it was “impossible for us to support these changes” because of increased risks to patients.

Dr Behrens was appointed in January 2015 after working as asenior consultant for two years.

In his resignation letter, he said: “I take the ability to take responsibility for the department as an integral component of the role but find lately I am not able to do this any more as the ... decision-making process is not concerned with my input.”

Transforming Health clinical ambassador Prof Dorothy Keefe has said the controversial plan has the support of “95 per cent of clinicians”.

Dr Dewald Behrens

However, details of discontent have since emerged.

THIRTY senior clinicians at Modbury wrote to Mr Snelling warning the changes would result in “increased risks to patients”.

NINETEEN ED specialists at Lyell McEwin Hospital sent a protest letter this month warning they face being overwhelmed “to the point of potentially avoidable deaths” and want their objections on the record in the event of any future coronial inquiry.

FOURTEEN Noarlunga clinicians sent a letter protesting the plan to make their ED a walk-in clinic, since amended.

This is in addition to public protests over the closure of the Repatriation General Hospital, and public statements of concern by the Australian Medical Association, the SA Salaried Medical Officers Association, the colleges of Surgeons, Physicians and Emergency Medicine, and consumer groups such as Paraquad SA.

Opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade said the resignation should “ring alarm bells on patient safety under Transforming Health”.

“Dr Behrens’ brave decision is a powerful statement that clinicians will not stand by while the Labor Government undermines patient safety,” Mr Wade said.

“The Health Minster has no choice but to immediately suspend the wind-down of Modbury services and commission an independent assessment of the impact on emergency care.”

Health Minister Jack Snelling’s office referred the issue to SA Health, which declined to comment on individual employment matters.

Modbury Hospital last week lost 32 of its 50 medical beds as Transforming Health changes begin. Its focus will shift to same-day elective surgery and rehabilitation care. Urgent ambulance cases will go to Lyell McEwin Hospital’s “super ED” and critically ill patients will be transferred to Lyell McEwin by ambulance shuttle.