Caboolture Hospital in crisis as more complaints emerge

Caboolture Hospital has held an urgent crisis meeting over explosive allegations that patients have died and others left maimed.

Caboolture Hospital bosses told staff they are ­grappling with “cultural issues” at the hospital during an urgent crisis meeting following explosive allegations that patients have died and others left maimed as a result of ­botched surgeries.

Staff at the hospital revealed a forum was held to address the shocking allegations made in Monday’s Courier-Mail by former and current staff that included ­patients being harmed by ­botched surgeries, in some cases causing death, a toxic culture of bullying and a staff member assaulting a patient.

One boss told staff that management was aware of cultural issues and said it was working to address them. He also confirmed that some staff had come forward with concerns regarding patient safety, a whistleblower said.

Staff were also shown data that purported to indicate the hospital’s infections rates post surgery and surgical complications were at acceptable levels.

The entrance to Caboolture Hospital. Picture: Peter Wallis

Now, dozens of patients have come forward on social media to share their horror stories, including Angela Lomas, who said she nearly died just last week.

“I had a blue contrast dye injected in me for a deeper CAT scan, but at the time of injection air was introduced,” she said.

“I nearly died last week. I had to lay horizontal and get hooked up on a heart monitor for four hours, it was the most terrifying four hours of my life.”

Robyn Ferguson said she went to the hospital, north of Brisbane, for a “simple surgery”.

“I have been left disabled in a wheelchair, dependent and needing a full-time carer,” she said.

Jessica Tegan said she hated the hospital so much after her brother Dylan was allegedly ignored that she couldn’t even drive past it anymore.

“My little brother went to the emergency room with mental health issues, due to his history he was supposed to be seen within 30 minutes. He left after four hours.”

Ms Tegan said her brother took his own life that night.

Another patient who went in to have a hernia operated on said the surgeon operated on the wrong side of her abdomen and couldn’t find the ­hernia – she is now on a waiting list at another hospital.

However, other patients said they couldn’t fault ­Caboolture Hospital.

A crisis meeting has been held at Caboolture Hospital. Picture: Peter Wallis

A Metro North Health spokeswoman said patient safety was the hospital’s ­highest priority.

“Like all hospitals in Metro North Health, Caboolture Hospital monitors surgical performance and conducts morbidity and mortality meetings to thoroughly review surgical complications,” the spokeswoman said.

“Where there are recommendations for improvement, these are implemented and monitored.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath agreed the allegations were serious and said anyone with concerns needed to ­provide evidence to “relevant authorities”.

Ms D’Ath said concerns regarding Caboolture Hospital’s performance were first raised with her by The Courier-Mail a month ago.

“The Caboolture Hospital’s Performance Management Committee examined these matters (raised in The Courier-Mail on Monday) … I’ve asked for an update on the outcome of the investigation and those matters are ongoing,” she said.