Professor David David says Government claims on Adelaide’s craniofacial unit are ‘nonsense’
HEALTH Minister Stephen Wade said there were “no changes” to the model of care at Adelaide’s craniofacial unit, a claim founder Professor David David said was “nonsense”.
HEALTH Minister Stephen Wade said there were “no changes” to the model of care at Adelaide’s craniofacial unit, a claim founder Professor David David described as “nonsense”.
In the wake of questions in Parliament this week, Prof David told The Advertiser his plans for the specialised unit were being ignored.
He said the unit was no longer bringing in overseas patients for treatment and that a key doctor had been unfairly let go.
The unit at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital is world-famous for its treatment of head and face deformities, tumours and injuries, and particularly renowned for treating children from Asian countries.
Prof David said they would usually treat about 15 a year.
Last year just three were booked in, and two pulled out because they were treated in their home countries.
Mr Wade said there were fluctuations but was “not aware of any pulling back”.
“Last year was a particularly low year, but already this month we’ve got this year’s first patient,” he said.
He paid tribute to Prof David for his work and said it was “inevitable” the unit would go through a transition phase after he stepped down.
Prof David stepped down as head of the unit a year ago before formally resigning just days ago. He left a manifesto in place for the unit’s future, which Mr Wade said was being followed closely.
“Following Professor David David’s well-earned retirement and a robust recruitment process for his replacement, Dr Mark Moore was appointed the new Medical Unit Head in 2017,” Mr Wade said.
“Other than this change in leadership, there has been no change to the models of care or high-quality service the unit provides,” he said.
Prof David said that was “just nonsense”.