Physicians Pull Out Of Bulli Hospital
Illawarra Mercury
Friday October 1, 2004
A MEETING of Illawarra physicians last night voted to withdraw from the Bulli Hospital roster as of this morning.
A statement drafted by eight doctors who attended a crisis meeting of the Illawarra Division of Medicine said that due to staff shortages the physicians were unable to take responsibility for any admissions or transfers to Bulli District Hospital from 8am.The momentous vote, which was unanimous, will cause major problems for Illawarra Health which has struggled all week with a chronic lack of beds at Wollongong, Shellharbour and Bulli hospitals.Physician Christopher Dunn said the decision was taken in the best interests of patients and doctors."It's an extremely difficult situation," Dr Dunn said. "And it was an extremely difficult decision."It did not mean Bulli Hospital would close, but it did herald a fundamental change in the 111-year-old hospital's role, he said.Len Harvey, director of the Illawarra's medical stream, warned on Wednesday that a dwindling number of physicians had been working under intolerable pressure for some months."We haven't got enough physicians to even staff Shellharbour," Dr Harvey said.He was trying to care for between 80 and 98 patients a day. The ideal patient load for a physician was less than 30."It's very unsafe, for patients and for physicians," he said.As of today, physicians will continue to care for patients already in the hospital, but will not accept responsibility for any new patients admitted or transferred to Bulli Hospital. They would still be available for consultations at Bulli, Dr Dunn said.An Illawarra Health spokeswoman said the administration accepted the extreme pressure the physicians were working under. She said the health service would move to consolidate patients at Wollongong Hospital."We will open additional beds as needed and bring in extra nursing staff from other sites, including from our casual pool."Over the next fortnight the health service would have to look at ways of addressing the situation, she added.Surgeon Hunter Watt said as chair of the Northern Illawarra Medical Staff Council he supported the physicians in their decision."There's a critical manpower problem among the physicians covering the rosters in the Northern Illawarra," Dr Watt said. He understood there were only two physicians available to cover the Shellharbour roster for the next fortnight."That's an almost unbearable workload."
© 2004 Illawarra Mercury
