TWO years ago NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner sat across the table from Manning Hospital Medical Staff Council chair Dr Murray Hyde Page and Internal Medicine and Cardiology chair Dr Sesh Narasimhan.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The two men faced Mrs Skinner to lobby for a green light from the NSW government for a public-private partnership with the Mayo Private Hospital.
They wanted the NSW government to say 'yes' to public patient access to the Mayo's Cardiac Catheter Laboratory when it opened its doors and secured accreditation.
They wanted critical public cardiac patients to have the same access to treatment as critical private cardiac patients for the ambulance trip from Manning Hospital to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle to change to an ambulance trip from Manning Hospital to Mayo Private Hospital in Taree.
The Mayo's Cardiac Catheter Laboratory opened in October last year, accreditation is expected within a few months but according to Dr Hyde Page, the NSW government will not sign-off on a public-private partnership and this week the medical staff council decided to thrust it in to the public arena to focus political attention on the issue.
Dr Hyde Page contends "the issue is health outcomes and saving lives" and points to Bureau of Health Information relating to deaths within 30 days of hospitalisation for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the period of July 2009 to June 2011.
He says the NSW average is 10 deaths per 100 patients for each public hospital but it stands more than 16 for Manning Hospital.
Two years on Minister Skinner is not seated across the table from Dr Hyde Page but he says his message to her remains the same - Manning Hospital Medical Staff Council doctors want Hunter New England Health to enter into a public-private partnership with Mayo Private Hospital and will campaign for better care, offered locally, for public cardiac patients.
"As it stands, public patients suffering from a range of heart conditions must go to Newcastle if they need treatment that requires a catheter lab," Dr Hyde Page said.
"What I'm proposing is for the Hunter New England Local Health District to enter into a public-private partnership with the private hospital to improve care for people in Taree, Forster and Gloucester.
"It would also help improve health outcomes for local patients who have serious medical problems with their hearts," Dr Hyde Page said.
Dr Hyde Page says "it's important that doctors have a strong say in how their hospital is run".
"The Medical Staff Council is a valuable part of any hospital because it gives local doctors a voice that can advocate on their behalf for improvements to patient treatment," Dr Hyde Page explained.
"It's a good way to ensure the needs of Taree and the lower Mid North Coast are not lost in state-wide planning." Dr Hyde Page added.
Hunter New England Health chief executive Michael DiRienzo attended that meeting two years ago but today argues that the "current model in place for Manning cardiology patients is the model that is supported and endorsed by a group of experts who oversee cardiology services for the Hunter New England Local Health District."
"Transferring patients to the Mayo Private Hospital for cardiac treatment is not currently supported as a safe and comprehensive model of care for our patients," Mr DiRienzo explained.
"The majority of Manning patients receive transfer and timely care within the agreed 48-hour timeframe. All patients are triaged according to their clinical condition, and patients who need urgent care are transferred immediately.
"It is important for the community to be aware that there have not been any adverse outcomes for cardiac patients travelling from Taree to John Hunter Hospital for treatment. Data analysed over the past two years indicates all patients received safe care for their condition."
Mr DiRienzo argues that "cardiac care provided in a catheter lab is a planned diagnostic procedure, which could result in the need for further tests and treatment. This is best done in the one hospital that is equipped to provide all of these services."
"John Hunter Hospital has an intensive care unit, and cardiology specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It can also provide the full range of cardiology services. This is not the case in Manning, and delivering this kind of complex care without these supports in place could put patient safety at risk."
"The chief executive and the Board are ultimately responsible for how health care services are provided in the district. Patient safety and the delivery of high quality care is at the core of all decision making," he added.
