PA Hospital crisis: Whistleblower Doc’s spinal unit pleas to D’Ath went unanswered

The spinal unit at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital could be in line for major redevelopment, with top bureaucrats called in to review patient care after whistleblowers raised serious, longstanding issues.

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A beleaguered spinal injuries hospital unit may be relocated while a major development of the ward is undertaken, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has revealed.

And one of Queensland Health’s top bureaucrats has been tasked with looking into the models of care provided to people with spinal injuries at Metro North and Metro South Hospital and Health Services.

It comes after whistleblowers revealed paralysed patients had been left to lie in their own faeces, sit naked in front of other patients and been subjected to aggressive bowel treatments at the state’s main spinal injury unit.

Queensland Health chief operating officer Dr David Rosengren will lead the evaluation, which includes the “potential relocation” of the Princess Alexandra Spinal Injuries Unit to the Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service at Herston.

“This process would allow Metro South Hospital and Health Service and Queensland Health the time frame necessary to develop the business case and deliver on the redevelopment of the Spinal Injuries Unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital,” Ms D’Ath said.

former Queenslander of the Year Dr Dinesh Palipana. Photographer David Kelly

“If this was the approach recommended by Dr Rosengren, Brisbane would have two tertiary spinal rehabilitation units in the South East of the state and one located in Townsville.

“In order to guide this work, I have asked that a stakeholder working group be convened to ensure that we are appropriately informed of the lived experiences of patients and staff.”

Ms D’Ath also acknowledged the advocacy of one of the whistleblowers, Dr Dinesh Palipana, who sent her an email in February this year outlining the desperate need for change.

Ms D’Ath didn’t respond to the email from the disability advocate warning that the SIU was in trouble.

Dr Palipana stated in the correspondence that he was at the Minister’s disposal to discuss the problems further.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ DR DINESH PALIPANA’S LETTER

Ms D’Ath said she had sent the email from Dr Palipana to Metro South HHS seeking advice on the letter, but had not heard back.

Dr Palipana’s email stated: “I write to you to plead that we empower these stakeholders and provide resources to enable optimal care for Queenslanders in the most vulnerable time”.

The email highlights the unit is seriously underfunded and contains only 40 beds, leaving patients in intensive care for long periods of time before they can be transferred for urgent treatment and rehabilitation.

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The doctor also tells the Minister that the transition of patients through the unit back to normal life is too slow and fails to compete with similar units overseas.

“It appears that the care of people at spinal cord injury in the acute setting has not progressed from this perspective for many years, perhaps even since the nineties,” Dr Palipana states.

The revelation that a red flag was waved at the Minister only weeks ago comes as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Ms D’Ath faced media on Monday saying they were very concerned about whistleblower allegations of poor treatment at the state’s only spinal injury unit.

While the email does not highlight the specific patient claims of being stripped of dignity with unacceptable levels of hygiene and concerns over grey areas in gaining consent for intimate procedures, it does make it clear patients are in desperate need of improved care and the unit is crying out for extra funding.

Ms D’Ath said she had spoken to her director-general about the spinal injuries unit, and had asked her department to give her a briefing on the status of the unit.

“It doesn’t matter where the patients reside, I expect that people will be given the proper care that they deserve in our public hospitals,” the Minister said.

“I want to make sure that the staff that are working in this unit have the skillset and the expertise to manage this unit properly.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said she had not replied to Dr Palipana, as she has not heard back from Metro South HHS in regard to his letter. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Dr Palipana works as an emergency doctor for Queensland Health and told The Courier-Mail that he has thought long and hard about speaking out on the conditions at the unit.

“I sent the email as so many people have approached me to ask for help. I felt I have no choice but to speak out on behalf of patients,” Dr Palipana said.

Ms D’Ath said she had not replied to Dr Palipana, as she has not heard back from Metro South HHS in regard to his letter.

“Dr Palipana’s email pertained to issues with accessing beds and a request for additional resources to the Spinal Injuries Unit (SIU) at the PA Hospital,” she said.

“Dr Palipana also referred to the experience of a specific patient who experienced significant spinal injuries.

“This correspondence was referred to Metro South HHS for specific advice regarding the matters raised.

“This is the standard practice where individual patient matters are raised.

“To date, the advice sought from Metro South HHS has not been provided to enable me to reply to Dr Palipana.”

The Princess Alexandra Hospital is home to the state’s only spinal injury unit. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

She said her office had been in discussion with leadership in Metro South about the SIU.

“Prior to the receipt of this letter, my office was engaged with the senior leadership of Metro South HHS regarding the SIU and the plans to deliver a modern service that meets the expectations of staff and patients.

“I also understand that the board chair of Metro South HHS had been in discussions with Spinal Life Australia, whose board Dr Palipana sits on, regarding a co-commissioned review that examined the future of the statewide delivery of spinal injuries clinical services.”

Originally published as PA Hospital crisis: Whistleblower Doc’s spinal unit pleas to D’Ath went unanswered