Medical Warning: Hospital In Chaos
Newcastle Herald
Saturday August 9, 2003
BELMONT Hospital is not in crisis despite the loss of its hospital boss, chief nurse and two physicians, according to Hunter Health.
But The Herald has received a letter from a doctor, who did not wish to be named, saying the hospital was in chaos with two physicians ``pushed around to the point of insanity", another resigning and one on leave.
Former hospital executive officer Paul McCormack has been moved to manage the hospital's operations.
Former Hunter Valley and Lower Hunter medical superintendent Donald MacLellan has replaced him as the hospital service manager.
Former mental health director Chris Kewley has replaced nursing director Joan Loveday.
The letter says the situation is a disaster and that crisis meetings have been held help maintain services.
Hunter Health confirmed two of Belmont's five physicians were out of action.
One doctor is about to resign and the letter says the other doctor is on stress leave, which Hunter Health has called special leave.
None of the physicians was willing to comment.
One doctor had wanted to talk of the dire situation at the hospital.
The doctor cited significant problems but had been warned not to talk.
Hunter Health public affairs director Craig Eardley said Hunter Health did not gag its staff.
Comments had to go through public affairs.
``Structural changes" over several months at Belmont Hospital had been designed to improve care.
Hunter Health is advertising for a visiting medical officer to replace the Belmont physician and a general medicine specialist who will also lecture at Newcastle University.
Mr Eardley said doctors from John Hunter Hospital were filling in at Belmont, placing extra pressure on the John Hunter.
He said Belmont Hospital had needed stronger medical management since early this year.
© 2003 Newcastle Herald
