Questions Linger Over Bulli Hospital's Future
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday November 24, 2004
FIVE weeks after Illawarra physicians returned to work at Bulli Hospital, a question mark remains over how long the roster at the 111-year-old hospital can be maintained.
Doctors pulled out of the roster in October, citing intolerable workloads that were taking a toll on their health.The physicians returned two weeks later after a promise from the State Government that Illawarra Health would appoint extra physicians.Since then another physician has fallen ill with a coronary problem - the third in a matter of months.Len Harvey, director of the Illawarra's medical stream, said physicians were still working under an unacceptable level of pressure."I'm still seeing up to 80 patients a day," he said.Dr Harvey said there were still not enough doctors to cope with the demands made on them.Two physicians had been interviewed and their appointment was being considered by the area's credentials committee, but he said the problem of what to do with Bulli Hospital remained.Dr Harvey said Greater Metropolitan Transition Taskforce chairman Professor Kerry Goulston had been to Wollongong twice to talk to physicians. He had discussed a different role for Bulli Hospital - one that would put fewer demands on the area's physicians.Dr Harvey said in any redistribution of services, it was important that physicians be freed from the roster but available for consultation.He still believes that Bulli should be a hospital for "step down care" only, where only patients who are not acutely ill are treated.Under his vision, Shellharbour Hospital services would be enhanced, with extra physicians, specialist consultations on site, and a CT scanner.He said at least 50 new beds would be needed in Wollongong to take care of the acutely ill."The reality of Shellharbour is it's a developing hospital with a big community around it," Dr Harvey said.Prof Goulston said the problems in the northern Illawarra were not dissimilar to problems facing hospitals in other parts of the state.He reported "no startling news" yet concerning Bulli, but confirmed he was looking at the problem."Generally speaking, the situation is not going to get better any time soon. In fact it will probably get worse," Prof Goulston said.
© 2004 Illawarra Mercury
