Buderim Private Hospital admits to operating theatre failures in staff notice

A leaked notice from a private Sunshine Coast hospital has detailed an extensive list of failures and improvement measures after a theatre bungle left two patients anaesthetised without the surgeon on the premises.

Sunshine Coast Buderim Private Hospital.

A leaked notice from a private Sunshine Coast hospital has detailed an extensive list of failures and improvement measures after a theatre bungle left two patients anaesthetised without the surgeon on the premises.

In July, this publication reported on an incident at the Buderim Private Hospital where two patients were anaesthetised before the surgeon had arrived on the hospital premises.

A staffer, who wished to remain anonymous, said at the time those employed by the Buderim Private Hospital had become increasingly concerned with a number of theatre practices and “near misses”.

An internal notice to hospital staff seen by this publication addressed the hospital’s practice of carrying out “overlapping surgery”, while referencing the incident that breached the surgical safety policy.

“A miscommunication resulted in two patients receiving their general anaesthetic prior to the arrival of the surgeon (approx 30 mins later),” the notice stated.

According to the notice it was the third time the Buderim Private Hospital had run overlapping surgeries.

Sunshine Coast Buderim Private Hospital.

The notice stated the safety policy of the hospital was not followed correctly by the theatre team members and there was “no clear scope of practice” for the surgical assistants.

“Surgical safety policy was not adhered to by team members,” the notice to staff stated.

Among the 13 improvement measures listed by the hospital were the implementation an overlapping theatre policy to be finalised and circulated, staff to be “empowered” to share concerns in meetings and surgeon briefings to occur when all team members are present, as per existing safety policies.

The notice also stated, regarding the July incident, the “anaesthetic chair discussed incident with both anaesthetists involved” and the surgeon was to discuss the incident with the team and implement improvement measures as well.

Buderim Private Hospital has been contacted for comment by this publication.