Operating theatre lighting in the new Royal Adelaide Hospital is hanging too low, surgeons say
SURGEONS warn overhead lights in operating theatres at the $2.3 billion new RAH are so low, they are only suitable for the “vertically challenged” and make it impossible for them to operate safely.
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SURGEONS warn overhead lights in operating theatres at the $2.3 billion new Royal Adelaide Hospital are so low, they are only suitable for the “vertically challenged” and make it impossible to operate safely.
A photo uploaded by a surgeon on Facebook clearly displays the design flaw, showing a surgeon hitting his head on low pendant lights, just weeks before the new RAH is due to open its doors to patients on September 5.
The photo is accompanied with the caption: “Great for the vertically challenged surgeons”.
After repeated questioning from The Advertiser, new RAH heads have admitted the pendent lighting installed in the theatres still required “further modifications”.
Following The Advertiser’s story, this morning, Central Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive officer Jenny Richter told ABC Radio “a number of them (operating theatres) have a problem with the lights being too low”.
“There are 30 of the 40 technical suites where the length of the arm holding the light is too low,” she said.
“We have been working with the manufacturer of the lights to develop a solution that will raise the height of the lights by 12cm to 20cm.”
Doctors have also raised major concerns about the problem, saying the flaw is “dangerous” and “lighting in surgery is absolutely essential” because “you could cut the wrong thing”.
The Advertiser first contacted the new RAH last week following numerous concerns from medical staff, including repeated rumours that pendent lighting in the operating theatres had been installed at the incorrect height, so any surgeon taller than 170cm could not operate in the suites.
The latest trouble adds to a growing list of problems at the new RAH, which is overbudget and 17 months late.
On Tuesday, Ms Richter told The Advertiser the 40 “technical suites” at the new RAH were undergoing final commissioning work to ensure they were ready for surgery.
She did not answer specific questions about the height of the lighting, she confirmed: “Some of the suites still require further modifications to accommodate both the ultra-clean air filtration system and the pendant lights installed in the ceiling”.
“We are working with the vendors and surgeons to resolve this issue prior to the hospital opening and there will be no impact to our patients or the opening date,” she said.
SA Salaried Medical Officers Association spokesman Dr David Pope said the latest design flaw was “concerning” and dangerous.
Dr Pope said “(surgeons) can’t get the light in the right position for their line of sight”.
“You could cut the wrong thing ... lighting in surgery is absolutely essential,” he said.
“There’s major problems with the design of that hospital (because) clinicians were excluded from the design process.
“Obviously things just haven’t made it into the plans, they (the State Government) have built something in many areas that are not able to function effectively.”
Opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade said the latest design issue “adds to the litany of issues with the new Royal Adelaide Hospital”.
“Given that South Australians are paying top dollar for this asset, it is astonishing that even before the first patient moves in, major flaws are being identified,” he said.
“It is an impressive building ... (but) lack of consultation has led to a 20 per cent shortfall in outpatient capacity, seen cafeterias converted to clinical research facilities and resulted in the hospital being 17 months late and $640 million over budget.”