Hospital surgical decision ‘would be catastrophic for patients’

A scalpel hangs over surgical training at a major Queensland hospital as investigations are under way to decide if the beleaguered facility will lose its accreditation.

Mackay Base Hospital’s general surgical training accreditation is at risk as the facility is still working to regain its obstetric training authorisation.

And the state’s peak medical body has warned any decision to suspend the surgical training of junior doctors would be “catastrophic” for medics and patients.

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons has confirmed it is investigating the Base’s accreditation and will make a decision on its future in a few weeks when the investigation report has been completed.

The hospital had its obstetric training authorisation suspended in September last year.

Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Base is working to restore its services and reputation following the death of three newborns and a review finding that there was inadequate care and botched surgeries in its obstetric and gynaecology department.

A negative decision by the college would be devastating for the rebuilding process.

Doctor shortages are having an impact on the training of registrars.

Hospital bosses say they will work with RACS to implement any changes to training that may be required.

“The surgical load at Mackay is heavy,” Australian Medical Association Queensland president Maria Boulton said.

“It’s one of regional Queensland’s busiest units.

Australian Medical Association Queensland president Maria Boulton.

“The absence of surgical training accreditation would deal a massive blow to the Mackay region community, the surgeons who rely on trainee doctors to meet workload demands, and the junior doctors who benefit from working in hospitals that emphasise teaching.

“The cancellation or suspension of surgical accreditation for any hospital and health service is catastrophic.

“It would impact significantly on the community’s health. It would exacerbate the waiting list blowout.

“In some cases, it would compromise the emergency care for patients requiring surgery, forcing them to be transferred to another hospital to obtain emergency care.”

Dr Boulton said the loss of accreditation was also a significant risk for the hospital workforce.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath. Picture: NewsWire/Sarah Marshall

“If you can’t undertake your training as surgical registrar, you are likely to leave that hospital and that region,” she said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, on her first day back at work after the holidays, said she “absolutely” had faith in Health Minister Yvette D’Ath.

She said the health portfolio was “very complex” and “probably the most complex”.

Asked about the maternity unit issues facing Gladstone Hospital, Ms Palaszczuk said there was a big issue attracting specialists to regional and remote parts of Australia.

A Mackay Hospital and Health Service spokesman said that the HHS was accredited to provide general surgical training by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), which recently visited to review training standards.

“Mackay HHS will work with RACS to implement any changes to training that may be required,” he said.

Mackay HHS general surgical team continues to provide elective and emergency

surgical services.