Mackay Hospital review: Full panel of medicos to lead inquiry named

A senior midwife has been appointed to the panel reviewing Mackay Hospital and Health Service’s obstetrics and gynaecology department in the wake of patient complaints.

Latest:‘They took decisions away from me’: Hospital under microscope A young mother has described her birthing experience at Mackay Base Hospital which is now subject to an external review amid a chorus of complaints.

A midwife will form part of the panel reviewing Mackay Hospital and Health Service in the wake of patient complaints of complications after surgery.

MHHS chief executive Lisa Davies Jones said Dr Mary Sidebotham, a Professor of Midwifery at Griffith University, was appointed to the review of the Mackay Base Hospital obstetrics and gynaecology surgical services.

“As a registered midwife/nurse with more than 35 years’ experience I am confident Dr Sidebotham (PHD) has the expertise for this role,” Ms Davies Jones said.

She said a senior and experienced midwife, external to the MHHS, was sought and would provide advice on cases where there was an interface of midwifery and medical care.

The MHHS, in a short statement MHHS released on Friday, said Dr Sidebotham had been instrumental in developing maternity services and designing midwifery education programs in the United Kingdom and Australia.

“She has an extensive track record of interdisciplinary collaboration and communication with communities and service providers to ensure women can access appropriate maternity services,” the statement read.

“She is also a member of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Committee and is an expert panel member for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.”

Dr Sidebotham will work with previously announced Professor Ted Weaver, a senior medical officer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, and Associate Professor Dr Greg Duncombe, a clinical director of maternal fetal medicine at SCUH, for the review.

’We hear your voice’: Hospital boss speaks after more women come forward

Mackay Hospital and Health Service has increased staff taking calls from women with concerns about their experiences with the Mackay Base Hospital obstetrics and gynaecology department.

MHHS chief executive Lisa Davies Jones said another two midwives were now receiving calls as the number of concerned women increases.

It comes as Ms Davies Jones confirmed the hospital’s accreditation with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists had been suspended amid the external review into the hospital department.

“So far we have had 58 contacts from women across a broad range,” Ms Davies Jones said.

“Not all around obstetrics and gynaecology surgery. They have come in to our phone line and come in via email and through advocates.

“We want to make sure that every woman who has spoken to us, that that feedback is taken into account.”

Another two midwives have been added to the team receiving calls, bringing the total to three.

Ms Davies Jones said the extra staff was to make the feedback line sustainable and “ensure people have the time off as well”.

The terms of reference for the review are yet to be finalised as the MHHS released details of the two doctors assigned to investigate complaints and concerns.

Professor Ted Weaver, a senior medical officer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, and Associate Professor Dr Greg Duncombe, a clinical director of maternal fetal medicine at SCUH, have been appointed.

RANZCOG suspended the hospital’s accreditation pending the review, but the MHHS continued to work with the college to “ensure we have appropriate supervision and support” for trainees.

Ms Davies Jones said the hospital would not be recruiting specialists while accreditation was suspended.

“At this point in time, we have submitted all of our information to RANZCOG and when they’re satisfied and we’re satisfied, that’s the point in time we will recruit to those specialists training positions,” Ms Davies Jones said.

“In the meantime, we will have no training positions.”

Ms Davies Jones said patients’ continuity of care could be assured through arrangements with Mater Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns “and a number of other hospital and health services”.

“Please be assured the service is safe,” she said.

“The staff are very dedicated, highly committed, caring individuals.

“We’re here for you, we hear your voice, we will ensure your voice is heard very strongly in our review and my commitment to you is that when we get recommendations from the findings, we will work with you in full design to put any of the changes in place that we need to make.”

Ms Davies Jones said the terms of reference, and the timeline or time frame for the review, were not yet known.

“I have not set an end date for the review, it’s important we take the time to do a thorough job.”

Mackay Base Hospital hotline inundated as new obstetrician brought in

The State Opposition will hold a town hall in Mackay next week in the wake of complaints relating to Mackay Base Hospital obstetrics and gynaecology patients.

Opposition leader David Crisafulli confirmed the meeting would be next Thursday.

The time and location was yet to be locked in, as well as booking details.

Opposition Health spokeswoman Ros Bates said she would be in Mackay for the town hall.

“As a nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how stressful it can be for our dedicated frontline staff who are over worked and under resourced,” Ms Bates said.

“We want to hear from doctors, nurses, surgeons, patients and family members who’ve had a bad experience with the health system.”

The Mackay meeting follows other town halls in Cairns, Rockhampton, Hervey Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Caboolture, Redcliffe, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

It comes as a hotline for concerned Mackay Base Hospital obstetrics and gynaecology patients has been swamped with calls in the wake of complaints after caesarean complications.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service chief executive Lisa Davies Jones said 19 calls had been received since it opened late Tuesday.

She said a senior obstetrician had been brought in to MBH after a “senior medical officer” from the MHHS Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department was suspended.

“Some of these relate to obstetrics and gynaecology surgery and others are more general inquiries about future care,” she said.

“The health service continues to work with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to provide appropriate support and mentoring for doctors undergoing specialist training.”

Ms Davies Jones said MBH would partner with Mackay Mater Hospital “as needed” to ensure current and future patient needs could be met.

“The health service has secured a senior obstetrician to work at Mackay Base Hospital to ensure the continuation of obstetrics and gynaecology surgery,” Ms Davies Jones said.

The number for the feedback line is 4885 6244.

The MHHS has yet to release any details of the external review into the MBH Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, including what time frame or the scope of the investigation.

Ms Davies Jones earlier this week said the independent review had been ordered after complaints were received on Friday.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service chief executive Lisa Davies Jones.

The patient care arrangement follows a week of turmoil for MHHS and Queensland’s Health Minister Yvette D’Ath who told parliament on Tuesday she had only been told of the developing situation on Monday.

It followed a question from Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates asking the number of doctors stood down at MBH.

Ms D’Ath referred to a Mackay Hospital and Health Service statement on the independent review which has secured two senior clinicians from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to lead the review into the services.

An updated statement on Wednesday said MHHS would work with the reviewers to “establish a timeline and processes for this review”.

Patient advocate Beryl Crosby says Mackay Hospital and Health Service acted quickly on her report of the women’s experience, but has called for an overhaul of the hospital complaints process. Picture: Paul Beutel

“This is an expert and independent review that relates to clinical practice and any other factors relevant to safe and effective patient care,” the statement read.

A dedicated feedback line remains open for MBH patients to phone with concerns about obstetrics and gynaecological surgical care.

The hotline is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, and callers are urged to leave their details if the number is busy.

“If anyone has concerns about their care it is important that you contact us directly so your concerns can be investigated and addressed,” Ms Davies Jones said.

“Any feedback about patient care is taken seriously and we undertake to provide a response to consumers who raise matters with us.

“Mackay HHS has commissioned an external independent obstetrics review relating to clinical practice and any other factors relevant to safe and effective patient care.

“We have provided the terms of reference to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and are seeking their assistance to identify an appropriately qualified specialist for the review.”

It follows action from patient advocate Beryl Crosby who contacted MHHS on Friday with reports of two women who said their complaints about care at MBH were dismissed.

“Patient safety is of utmost priority and we are constantly working to improve patient experience,” chief executive Lisa Davies Jones said.

“If anyone has concerns with the care they receive in any of our facilities they are encouraged to contact the health service directly and provide formal feedback so their concerns can be investigated and addressed.”

Mrs Crosby said MHHS had “acted very quickly” after she reported the women’s complaints, but she hit out at the lack of action taken when the two matters were initially reported after their initial treatment.

She urged women to review their experiences at Mackay Base Hospital and to make contact with any concerns.

“This is about getting the word out there to the patients, making sure they are supported,” she said.

Mrs Crosby, who has advocated for patient rights and reform for more than 15 years, said she was working with MHHS to establish a “pathway” to ensure any complaints would be addressed.

She said she wanted to see major change in how hospital complaints are handled.

“To me it means, and as always meant, the whole complaints process is a basket case,” she said.

“We don’t have a good complaints process. Often when patients make a complaint, they look at the chart and it doesn’t reflect what has happened.

“It needs to be a two-way conversation, an open disclosure process so when patients complain and come back, they need to keep adding to it.

“I have no faith in the complaints system as it is but I can tell you the patients who I will urge to make that complaint will be listened to, they will be offered support, and they will get the proper complaints process.”