Barwon Health training accreditation for cardiothoracic surgery on probation

A review of a Barwon Health unit found issues including rostering and overtime should be addressed, with its accreditation to train surgeons placed on probation.

University Hospital Geelong. Picture: Alan Barber

Barwon Health’s capacity to train cardiothoracic surgeons could be in jeopardy, with a review identifying concerns about issues including overtime.

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) said it had placed the Geelong hospital training post accreditation on a 12-month probationary period for the 2024 training year.

“Specific requirements related to training conditions will need to be met by the end of 2024 for accreditation to continue,” the college said.

Barwon Health’s chief medical officer Ajai Verma said RACS accredited the cardiothoracic surgery training program at Barwon Health in 2022, recognising the quality with an upgrade from a one-year to a two-year rotation.

However, he said an additional out-of-cycle training program accreditation inspection took place earlier this year in response to concerns raised by an individual trainee.

It’s understood the doctor in training only worked in the unit for a short time, before taking extended sick leave and resigning.

“Following the inspection, the cardiothoracic unit’s training accreditation has been maintained on a probationary basis, with a further reinspection to occur in 2024,” Dr Verma said.

“Barwon Health also conducted an internal review in response to the trainee feedback and identified some areas for improvement related to onboarding, rostering and overtime.

“Barwon Health is committed to implementing the review’s recommendations.

“While an accredited trainee has not been allocated for 2024, Barwon Health will continue to train other junior medical staff in the cardiothoracic unit and looks forward to the reinspection.”

Dr Verma said Barwon Health was well regarded as a provider of high-quality cardiothoracic surgical services.

Earlier this year, junior doctors launched a class action against Barwon Health over alleged excessive hours and unpaid, unrostered overtime.

According to Barwon Health’s website, the cardiothoracic surgery unit’s scope of work covers a wide range of operations on heart and lungs.

“The cardiothoracic surgery unit was established at University Hospital Geelong in 1997,” it said.

“It is one of six tertiary hospital cardiothoracic surgical units in Victoria and is the only regional unit of its kind.

“The cardiothoracic surgery unit is a highly valued accredited training centre for cardiothoracic SET (surgical education and training) trainees from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and since 2017 has also offered post fellowship training in both cardiac and thoracic surgery.”

It’s understood the RACS probation only applies to the trainees, and not the post-fellowship offering.

Originally published as Barwon Health training accreditation for cardiothoracic surgery on probation