MANNING Hospital Health Committee will seek additional information about the process to classify Manning Hospital as a Regional Trauma Service (RTS) hospital.
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Committee chair Don Macinnis OAM says the committee will discuss at its next meeting the issue of Manning Hospital being bypassed by the Ambulance Service of NSW when it carries patients with moderate and major trauma.
He describes "as pedantics" the advice of Manning Hospital acting general manager Jodi Nieass that the NSW Trauma Plan "specifies designated staffing is required for RTS. Specifically a part-time trauma director, full-time trauma nurse co-ordinator or clinical nurse consultant and part-time trauma registry manager. Manning Hospital does not have these positions within the hospital."
Mr Macinnis says "in actual fact they (the positions) are all there, they would only need to have names put to them.
"They exist and it will be up to the hospital to decide to fill those positions," he said.
"It is an issue we will discuss and seek to address."
Mr Macinnis recently gave voice to the committee's concerns about the classification of Manning Hospital in the NSW Trauma Plan, its impact on the future provision of trauma services and on Manning Valley residents who suffer moderate or major trauma and require ambulance transport.
Currently the Ambulance Service of NSW applies Protocol T1 in its assessment of patients. It requires personnel to not attend Manning Hospital for further treatment if it carries patients with moderate and major trauma.
Treatment is delivered at Port Macquarie Base Hospital as it is a regional trauma service provider, according to NSW Health, and can "provide all aspects of care to patients with moderate to minor trauma, and definitive care to a limited number of major trauma patients in collaboration with a major trauma service" hospital, such as John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.
Last week Mr Macinnis spoke to the committee's needs for "answers about the consultation process involved in the assessment of Manning Hospital".
"I reject any assessment that Manning Hospital doesn't fit the bill," Mr Macinnis said.
"We can cope with any trauma that comes our way and we also have access to aerial conveyance to a major trauma service hospital.
"When and by whom was this decision reached? As far as I know there was no local consultation.
"If we can find out who we need to speak to, what needs to be done to become a RTS, then we want that conversation."
ainslee.dennis@fairfaxmedia.com.au
