WCH’s PICU regains paediatric teaching credentials a day after state budget cash pledge
A jubilant Premier and Health Minister revealed the hospital’s embarrassing loss of training credentials had been reversed on Wednesday.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A day after the state government promised $20m in the budget to upgrade the Women’s and Children’s Hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit after it lost its teaching accreditation, it has regained its credentials.
A jubilant Premier Peter Malinauskas and Health Minister Chris Picton convened a hasty second press conference on Wednesday to announce the positive news, just hours after their scheduled health-focused press conference.
The unit lost its accreditation last November after a scathing report by the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand which revealed the PICU was understaffed, overcrowded and obsolete, causing burnout among exhausted doctors and nurses.
The damning assessment which withdrew that accreditation found a system rife with chronic failures, ranging from staffing and equipment to bed spaces and confidential files being left in the open.
The sole positive aspect cited by the College of Intensive Care Medicine was the PICU’s “motivated but exhausted medical and nursing staff”.
SA Health and government officials vowed to implement improvements, including a change of protocol to ensure a doctor was always available in the PICU.
WCH chief executive Lindsey Gough updated College officials on progress this month.
In response, College officials in a letter to Ms Gough dated Wednesday noted there had been “significant progress” in improvements to the PICU.
“Given this, the Hospital Accreditation Committee has determined the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital has received accreditation for paediatric general training and is effective immediately,” the letter states.
“This is conditional on the continued progress on the workforce and capital works plans you have outlined.”
College officials will inspect the site for a progress report later in the year, and congratulated Ms Gough for the ongoing improvements.
The Advertiser has also revealed the WCH’s separate neonatal intensive care unit only received “conditional accreditation” following an inspection by the Royal College of Physicians, and a progress report on recommended improvements is due to be provided to the College by the end of this month.
Alleged knife-wielding teen, 14, charged over armed robbery
A teenager will face court today after he allegedly robbed a store and threatened staff with a knife before hiding.
Tragic drowning victim only just reunited with children
A man who drowned after falling from rocks while fishing off Yorkes had only recently been reunited with his family, amid warnings for migrants and refugees.