Mackay hospital town hall: Former patients reveal experiences

Former patients have shared their experiences at Mackay Base Hospital in a public forum designed to spark action. What those in the room had to say.

Mackay Base Hospital patients have been given platforms to share their experiences amid a growing number of complaints of surgical complications.

Two senior doctors have been appointed to lead an external review into the MBH obstetrics and gynaecology department, with a commitment to include a midwife in the process.

As the terms of reference and time period for the review are finalised, the state opposition has called for the inquiry to be broadened to other departments.

The review will focus on the obstetrics and gynaecology department’s surgical services in the wake of women’s complaints about complications post-caesarean procedures.

At least 58 complaints have been recorded on the Mackay Hospital and Health Service feedback line, with more claims aired at a state opposition-led town hall in Mackay on Thursday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, across town at the same time, said it was “great to see” women coming forward as her government supported the review.

“The results of that review will go in front of the hospital board and to the health minister,” Ms Palaszczuk said.,

“I would like to see the results of the review when that is completed.”

Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates said the review’s terms of reference needed to be broad enough to include all former patients coming forward with complaints about the hospital.

“It shouldn’t matter which date, if there is a problem with a particular provider, particular surgeon, for instance,” she said, speaking in Mackay on Thursday.

“That is what the health ombudsman has been set up to do, to pick up patterns of rogue behaviour.

“They (terms of reference) need to be broadened for at least a couple of years. If there are outliers, then those people should be heard.”

Ms Bates said real-time data monitoring, better resources for triaging and more frontline funding were needed to improve hospital services.

Emotional stories of patients’ experiences at MBH were aired at the town hall forum at Ocean International, including Amy Puddy who said an artery by her uterus was cut in a second incision during the caesarean birth of her son, Nate.

Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm said women across the region expected a “better standard of care that they rightly deserve”.

“Having a baby should be a magical moment in a woman’s life and right now there is anxiety and fear because of the stories we’ve heard here in Mackay,” Ms Camm said.

“We’re hearing that there are women across Mackay and the Whitsundays who are living with serious complications because of a lack of resourcing and issues with the Mackay Hospital.

Another man said three knee operations to repair a meniscus injury had left him unable to work, and was reliant on his wife for financial support.

An elderly woman flown to Mackay Base Hospital after a serious traffic crash said she could not fault the emergency department staff for her treatment.