Action needed on Hervey Bay ICU report

ASMOFQ (the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation Queensland) and AMA Queensland are calling on the Queensland Government to accept and action the 25 recommendations to improve the stressed intensive care unit (ICU) at Hervey Bay Hospital.

Dr Hau Tan, President ASMOFQ, the Doctors Union, said the Service Enhancement Review was commissioned by the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS) more than a year ago, after ASMOFQ raised concerns to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission about bed numbers, patient care, workforce culture and hospital leadership.

“We need transparency and accountability to ensure all 25 recommendations are put into action as quickly as possible to improve the function, capacity and capability of the ICU,” Dr Tan said.

“This is vital to ensure the safety of the community and that doctors have the right infrastructure and working environment to deliver high quality healthcare.”

The report recommends immediate funding for an additional two ICU beds, increasing the total to seven.

“An extra two ICU beds may seem like a small number but will make a huge difference to an ICU operating under extreme strain. It’s the sickest patients in the hospital who need intensive care, so this will ultimately save lives,” added Dr Tan.

The report also calls for increases to medical, nursing and administrative staff in the ICU, a consistent program of training, plus clear reporting and data collection to ensure patient healthcare targets are met.

Issues around culture and leadership must also be addressed, as well as governance and accountability within the WBHHS, to ensure the recommendations are delivered appropriately.

Dr Maria Boulton, President of AMA Queensland, said the issues at the Hervey Bay Hospital are reflected across Queensland.

“Our Ramping Roundtable Action Plan last year outlined the urgent need for 1,500 more beds across the state so the call for more beds in Hervey Bay’s ICU is no surprise,” said Dr Boulton.

“While we are pleased to see this review at Hervey Bay, we are tired of being proven right and want to see action.

“We hope to see major healthcare investment in next week’s state budget to increase hospital beds, address access block and reduce ramping.

“Our members and the community deserve to know what’s happening in their hospitals and also what’s being done to fix them so we are calling on Queensland Health and the State Government to publish this report and urgently deliver all the recommendations.”