Hunter Nurses And Midwives Call For Nurse-To-Patient Ratios

BY JARROD MELMETH

Nurses and Midwives are rallying today at Maitland and Singleton hospitals calling on candidates in the New South Wales election to commit to nurse-to-patient ratios.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association is calling for surgical and medical wards to have a one-to-four ratio in the morning and afternoon and a one-to-seven ration on the night shift as well as a 24/7 one-to-three ratio in the emergency department, pediatric and maternity wards

The action from the Association follows fresh statistics released from the Bureau of Health Information's Quarterly Report showing a 6 per cent increase in emergency department patient presentations at Maitland Hospital between October and December, compared to this time last year.

Singleton Hospital saw a 2 per cent increase in patients in its emergency department during the same period.

Singleton Hospital Midwife Janine Moffat said the current situation is not good enough for staff or patients.

"Currently in Singleton, we can work anywhere from one nurse to eight, nine or ten patients and if you are the midwife on and you have got a lady in the birthing unit and you have got one or two postnatal women, those postnatal women miss out on care because you are the only midwife on.

"We are not asking for money, we are asking for safe nurse-to-patient ratios so that people get the health care they deserve and nurses can go home knowing that they did a good job," Ms Moffat said.

Maitland Hospital Nurse Jane Burr said nurse-to-patient ratios are the only way to provide a safe environment.

Maitland Hospital. Photo: The Newcastle Herald.

Singleton Hospital. Photo: The Singleton Argus.

State Government planning to move ambulance bill collection to Revenue NSW

BY JARROD MELMETH

Debt collectors could be unleashed on unsuspecting residents in the Hunter and across the state who have an outstanding ambulance bill under new laws proposed by the NSW Government.

Under the current laws, a person with an outstanding ambulance debt – unable to pay the fee could seek to have work order applied to address the matter, but under the proposed changes the Chief Commissioner of State Revenue is authorised to take action without taking court action.

Cessnock MP and Shadow Minister for Finance, Services and Property Clayton Barr has labelled the proposed changes as an extremely tough and heartless approach.

"The government are proposing to move to a very heavy-handed draconian-style model where there will be no prisoners taken. It will just seek to seize property, seize assets, seize payments and make sure that ambulance bill is paid, no matter what your circumstances are," Mr Barr said.

The State Debt Recovery Bill 2017 was first introduced into the NSW Parliament in November last year and only recently passed the Legislative Assembly last week and is set to be debated in parliament this week.

Shadow Minister for Health Walt Secord said the changes will affect those who are most vulnerable in our community.

"We will have a situation where elderly patients with chest pains will hesitate calling an ambulance in a life-threatening situation - or delay their call until it is too late. Lives will be put at risk," Mr Secord said.

Pictured: Clayton Barr.

It's decided, the new Maitland Hospital will be Public

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's decided.

The new Maitland Hospital will be run as a fully public hospital. The State Government was considering a public-private partnership or involvement from the not-for-profit sector, both ideas which have now been scrapped.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced the plans last night saying after much consideration and weighing up all of the concerns this was the best option.

"After much consideration, we have decided on a public health-led approach from the brand new Maitland Hospital at Metford,"

"I want to reassure the people of Maitland and surrounding areas that they are getting a world-class hospital, and the NSW Liberal Government is focused on making that happen as soon as possible," said Minister Hazzard.

It's been a roller coaster of a decision, in July last year it was announced that a public-private partnership had been scrapped, and the government were looking down a not-for-profit path instead.

The $450 million hospital's construction is already underway, with ground work and the turning of the sod happening before Christmas.

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison is over the moon, saying she's happier than when she was when she won the election in 2015.

Artists Impression new Maitland Hospital.

EARLIER:

PPP scrapped for not-for-profit model for the new Maitland Hospital
Maitland Hospital To Be Debated in Parliament Today
Spat Overshadows Significant Step in Construction of new Maitland Hospital

Mystery Donor Hands over $5 Million Cheque to HMRI

BY JESSICA ROUSE

An anonymous donor has handed over a $5.2 million cheque to the Hunter Medical Research Insitute.

The generous philanthropic gift will go towards advancing emergency out-of-hospital patient treatment over the next five years.

The HMRI will work jointly with NSW Ambulance and Hunter New England Health to improve patient care, particularly in rural areas.

When asked if we could get a hint as to who the mystery donor was, Professor Michael Nilsson, the Director of the HMRI just laughed and said they're simply over the moon.

"We need to keep the secret, that's how it is when it's annonymous! But a fantastic transformational transofrmation, the largest in HMRI history by far," said Professor Nilsson.

"Sometimes donations at this level have great rings on the water effect and we are really hopeful that it will increase the focus on the good job we are doing here with all of the partners. It's fantastic and we are so happy today."

NSW Ambulance will be able to extend their training services from facilities, to upgrading and renewing education euqipment, including advanced technology simuulation mannikins which will all make emergency service care even more effective than it already is.

It aims to benefit regions outside of metropolitan cities to guarantee the same level of training, knowledge and service as bigger regions.

"I'm particularly happy that it's going to an area that is in defiente need, out-of-hospital careand upscaling of the ambulance to another level, that's fantastic and really proves the dedication of the communtiy I think," said HMRI Director Dr Nillson.

Image supplied.

Spat Overshadows Significant Step in Construction of new Maitland Hospital

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A traditional turning of the sod ceremony at the site of the new Maitland Hospital at Metford has been overshadowed by a spat between Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison and Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald.

In front of gathered media yesterday afternoon, Scot MacDonald made it abundantly clear he wasn't happy Jenny Aitchison was there.

He asked her if she was invited and said he wasn't "really happy" she was there because she'd been trying to derail the project for the last two years.

"She hadn't been invited to the sod turning so, you've got to be suited up, we said to her, were you invited, she said no. It's very clear it's not appropriate to have people on the site who are just there to cause mischief," said Scot MacDonald.

He toured the site with representatives from Health Infrastructure and Hunter New England Local Health District inspecting the preliminary work and looking at the concept design for the new hospital.

Concept design for new Maitland Hospital at Metford. Image supplied.

Jenny Aitchison has hit back this morning, accusing Scot MacDonald of spreading lies.

"There's no basis in fact of it, everyone knows that I have been in favour of the hospital for the last two years, the lobbying that I've done has actually secured another $50 million for the project than what the government promised in the first place,"

"It's ensured that the commencement of the works actually happened before the end of this year, something that the government earlier this year said would only start in 2018," said Jenny Aitchison.

Scot MacDonald makes no apologies and didn't back down, calling on Jenny to get on board with the plan because really it's too little too late.

"She's being led by her shadow minister who is actually potentially causing a roadblock to this so you know, my call would be to Jenny, get on board, its a very very large project, there have been enough delays the money is on the table, let us get on with it."

The State Government announced in July it would seek a not-for-profit organisation to operate the hospital and providers are being invited to give their proposals for the site in partnership with the NSW Government.

Jenny Aitchison said Scot MacDonald is just being a bully.

"He's been a bully from the start really and it was just interesting that finally, I guess the media was there when he's launched one of his tirades and that's all it is, there's no basis in fact with it, everyone knows I've been in favour of the hospital for the last two years."

A part from the shock war of words between the two parliamentarians, yesterday was a significant step forward for the hospital's construction.

The enabling works at the site being carried out by Donnelley Constructions Pty Ltd and is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

A new roundabout will be built on Metford Road as a part of the enabling works. Fencing and signage have been erected to establish the site and services will be upgraded including a new water main and the relocation of the above and below ground services such as gas main, power and communication cables.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald with Gavin Thompson, Project Director,
Health Infrastructure and Eddie Pirillo, Executive Lead - New Maitland Hospital, Hunter New England Local Health District

$8 Million for Health in Nelson Bay

BY MATT JOHNSTON

The state government has announced $100 million in funding to create new HealthOne facilities across the state, and refurbish existing facilities. Eight brand new HealthOne facilities were announced, including one in Nelson Bay.

Credit: Port Stephens Examiner

Eight million dollars is going towards building the facility at the site of Tomaree Community Hospital, says Duty MLC for Port Stephens Catherine Cusack. This will be Port Stephens' second facility after Raymond Terrace, and the fifth full service for the Hunter New England health area.

Ms Cusack says Nelson Bay was chosen because of the expanding population and its growing need for a diverse range of health services. "It was ideally located in terms of additional demand for service and we're very pleased as we constantly seek to expand the amount of health services available that Tomaree Community Hospital was one of those selected".

Funding for the project has already been approved, and preliminary work is underway to determine the exact structure of the new facility. Ms Cusack says quite a bit of design work and consultation is still required. As of yet, there is no timeline in place for the construction of the new services.

"This will bring together general practitioners with community health and other health professionals across multidisciplinary teams. So it's got a lot of homework that has to be done until the actual, physical construction begins. But certainly, that work is already underway."

"It's fantastic to upgrade health services again on the peninsula, having just announced the new X-ray facilities". Ms Cusack says the funding for the project will come in addition to the funding already allocated for the new X-ray machines.

Another Confirmed Case of Meningococcal Disease in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man is in a Hunter hospital with a confirmed case of meningococcal disease.

Hunter New England Health reports he's in a stable condition.

It's the eighth reported case of the disease in the Hunter this year.

While it is a rare and potentially life-threatening disease, in most cases early detection and treatment can result in a full recovery. 

The first signs of meningococcal disease may include pain in the legs, cold hands and feet and abnormal skin colour. Later symptoms may include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights, nausea and vomiting, a rash of reddish-purple spots or bruises, and drowsiness.

Shoal Bay Beach Closures

by MATT JOHNSTON

Swimmers on the Tomaree Peninsula are warned that Shoal Bay Beach is currently closed. A storm-water drain was blocked, which caused a waste-water to spill into the ocean.

NSW Health and the Environmental Protection Authority were notified, later putting up no swim signs. Environmental officers are on site monitoring the situation.

Hunter Water has since stopped the backup of waste-water, meaning conditions should start to improve before too long.

As of yet, there is no information on when the beach will re-open.

Photo - VisitNSW

Hunter Hospital waiting times go down as presentations go up

BY JARROD MELMETH

The John Hunter Hospital has been identified as the busiest emergency room in the state outside of Sydney, with almost 37 per cent of patients waiting more than four hours.

The Healthcare Quarterly report from the Bureau of Health Information found that 19,622 patients presented to the emergency department between April and June 2017, which is up 5.4 per cent from the same time in 2016.

The data also showed 63.4 per cent of patients left emergency within four hours of admissions, down from 68 per cent at the same time last year all the while presentations had increased by 5.4 per cent.
the average waiting time for emergency patients at the hospital is still 39 minutes above the state average.

NSW Shadow Minister for Health Walt Secord attributed the increase in patients to families being unable to afford

"Patients are flooding emergency departments because they cannot get into a GP's practice or they are unable to pay extra for a GP - Putting unnecessary pressure on the State's emergency departments. In desperation, families on tight budgets are turning to emergency departments," Mr Secord said.

Bureau of Health Information Acting Cheif Executive, Dr Kim Sutherland said over overall 663,000 patients presented to a NSW Hospital from April to June 2017.

"Patients who presented to the emergency department in that April to June quarter - there was almost 20,000 at the John Hunter Hospital, with an increase of over one thousand compared to the same quarter last year - So, quite busy and a bigger increase than we saw at a New South Wales level which, was 4.2 per cent," Dr Sutherland said.

Maitland Hospital also made an appearance in the top 20 on the list, with 11,760 presentations over the April to June quarter, which is down 0.1 per cent from the previous year. While, the Calvary Mater Hospital in Waratah placed further down the list at number 27, with 9,028 presentations to its emergency department. That number is up 4.8 per cent from the previous year.

Another confirmed case of meningococcal disease in Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

An adult is in a Hunter hospital with a confirmed case of meningococcal disease.

Hunter New England Health says there is no link between this case and any others. Close contacts of the patient have been prescribed clearance antibiotics as a precaution to prevent any further transmission of the disease.

The first signs of meningococcal disease may include pain in the legs, cold hands and feet and abnormal skin colour. Later symptoms may include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights, nausea and vomiting, a rash of reddish-purple spots or bruises, and drowsiness.

Public Health Physician Dr Craig Dalton is stressing that while the disease is life-threatening, in most cases early detection and treatment results in a full recovery.

Young child in Hunter hospital with a confirmed case of meningococcal

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A young child is in a serious condition in a Hunter hospital with a confirmed case of Meningococcal Disease.

The potentially life-threatening illness she contracted isn't linked to any other cases in the region.

The infection doesn't spread easily but close contacts of the patient have been prescribed clearance antibiotics to prevent any potential spread.

The first signs of meningococcal disease may include pain in the legs, cold hands and feet and abnormal skin colour. Later symptoms may include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights, nausea and vomiting, a rash of reddish-purple spots or bruises, and drowsiness.

Public Health Physician David Durrheim is stressing that anyone who suspects they could have the symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

Flu season "smashing" Mater Hospital Emergency Department

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Calvary Mater Hospital in Waratah has been revealed as an area of concern in the latest NSW Health Influenza Surveillance Report which also ranks the Hunter New England Health District with the third highest influenza notifications in the state.

Compared to June last year, hospitals across the state have seen influenza admissions rise by almost double which Shadow Minister for Health Walt Secord said is due to the unpreparedness of the NSW State Government.

"Every year we know the flu season is coming and again, the State Government has been caught off guard.

"They should have been out warning people and urging people to get vaccinated.

"In April I had my vaccinations and I have not missed a single day of work.

"Due to the failure to properly prepare, the additional flu patients in emergency departments mean other patients have to wait longer.

"The last thing NSW health and hospital system needs is to see hundreds of extra patients pouring into emergency departments with preventable flu symptoms," Mr Secord said.

Calvary Mater Hospital in Waratah. Source: ABC

Staff shortages a real issue in healthcare

BY MICHAEL COOK and JESSICA ROUSE

A recent incident involving a local mother and her premature baby has highlighted the severe staff shortage issues in the state-wide Newborn and paediatric Emergency Transport Service.

The NSW Health funded Service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, however, the vital work they do may be hindered if it is not fully staffed at all times.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery is urging the government to fix the serious issue and is this week asking the government what actions they are planning to take to address the severe staff shortages.

"I'm hoping that the health minister listens and responds investigates staffing levels and improves staffing levels to make sure that we can adequately maintain the staff so that there are no shortages in the services anymore," said Sonia Hornery.

The Transport Service provides emergency treatment and stabilisation and inter-hospital transport for very sick children up to the age of 16 which is absolutely pivotal for many families.

"Some poeple may not be aware of what they do. I certainly wasnt until I got into theis job but if you have a sick child ora sick young person, you may well require this service so we need the staff to be able to operate it. Staffing shortages in healthcare just don't work," said Sonia Hornery. 

Finally a Palliative Care roundtable for Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The state government has now agreed to hold a roundtable on palliative care in NEWCASTLE following a concerted push by the opposition.

It comes after state member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp slammed the government for leaving the city out of such an important conversation.

"Its a huge issue for everyone and every family in the country in fact because everyone will die but people want to choose where they can die if they can and they don't want to die in the back of an ambulance or in the hospital where they can't necessarily be surrounded by their loved ones," said Tim Crakanthorp.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald announced late yesterday that the roundtable will be held next month and headed by Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Health Leslie Williams.

Leslie Williams says every health district has its own needs and challenges and with 50,000 people already dying in NSW each year, something needs to be done with the figure expected to double by 2056.

Scot MacDonald is urging for the politics to be taken out of palliative care, "it is a difficult subject there's no question about it but the roundtable will come in early June. We'll look at what are we doing now, have we got the right resources, have we got palliative care where we need it, all those sorts of things. Everything should be on the table".

Roundtables are also scheduled for Lismore, Kempsey, Broken Hill, Tamworth, Griffith, Queanbeyan and Kiama.

The date and venue will be confirmed for the Newcastle roundtable later this month.

A move for the proposed Lower Hunter Hospital

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

While in Newcastle yesterday, Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he's open to looking at a proposal to relocate the planned Lower Hunter Hospital.

The proposal would see the site moved from Metford to Kurri Kurri and Cessnock Council has called on the government to consider the shift to an area of green space within the former Hydro Aluminium site believing it would better serve the Hunter Valley.

Brad Hazzard is happy to consider the idea, and as Health Minister only wants to the best outcome for patients.

"Certainly the advice I've had from the ministry and from the local health district is that they have already bought a new site and they think that site is a very good site but I am looking at the arguments both ways and discussing and challenging if you like, the bureaucracy there is, but I have heard that decision and I am looking at it."

But public funding needs to be spent wisely, and the minister says where the taxpayer's dollar goes is very important.

"It is always a case of being open to local communities and as the Minister for Health, I am. But I have to be sensible and make sure that taxpayers funds are used well. What the department and the ministry are advising me is that they're very happy with the site but certainly if there are other issues I'll look at it."

Health Minister Brad Hazzard

Newcastle Hospital Implicated In Chemotherapy Underdosing Scandal

BY IAN CROUCH

It's been revealed a cancer doctor who allegedly under-dosed more than 100 patients had previously worked at Newcastle's Calvary Mater Hospital.

Doctor John Grygiel worked there for two years as a medical oncologist in the 1980's, however health authorities admit they have no record of what he did or how many patients he treated.

Dr Grygiel is accused of giving low doses of chemotherapy to patients at Sydney's St Vincents Hospital as well as Orange and Bathurst Hospitals.

The revelation has prompted calls from Wallsend MP, Sonia Hornery for an inquiry into Dr Grygiel's work to be extended to include his time at the Calvary Mater.

"I'll be raising  this issue in Parliament to make the minister aware that this is of concern to us locally," she said

However, Health Minister Jillian Skinner has ruled this out saying his time there doesn't need to be investigated.

"The was before there were any protocols about the dosing to do with chemotherapy, so it was not pertinent to the inquiry conducted into his treatments out in the Orange hospitals later on," she said.

Dr John Grygiel photo courtesy dailytelegraph.com.au

NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner