Surgeon shortage hits at hospital

A shortage of surgeons on staff at Wairau Hospital is putting patients at risk, it is claimed.

Medical staff at the Blenheim-based hospital have hit out at a lack of general surgeons on staff.

The move comes after a patient had to be transferred to Nelson Hospital last weekend for treatment and deteriorated on the way.

He was later flown to Wellington Hospital.

“There are no general surgeons here who can deal with acute abdominal pain for example.

“The patient needed a surgeon and got sent to Nelson as we [Wairau] didn’t think we could help.

“He was really sick and had to go to Wellington,” says a disgruntled member of staff who says the issues was first raised with management several months ago.

“Some surgeries can wait but abdominal surgeries are not generally one of them.”

But Assistant Chief Medical Officer Andrew Morgan says he is confident patients are being offered the best level of care in general surgery despite short term staffing disruption.

Just one patient has been transferred to Nelson Hospital in the last two months due to a general surgeon not being available at Wairau Hospital

He says the collaborative care model between Wairau and Nelson Hospital means local staffing impacts are managed collectively.

“Operating as one team, the service is well versed in receiving local patient assessments and informing plans of care across the district.

“This may include observation at Wairau Hospital through to the transfer of acute, subspecialist and vulnerable pre- and post-operative patients to Nelson Hospital.”

Dr Morgan says there are four permanent general surgeons on staff at Wairau Hospital, with just one leaving in the last 12 months.

Nelson Marlborough Health is currently advertising for two general surgeons to join the current staff of two.

There is one permanent job on offer and the other for a fixed term contract of 12 months for a surgeon to hold five clinical sessions a week and be rostered on call.

Both vacancies are advertised at 72 hours a fortnight.

There are currently six general surgeons employed at Nelson Hospital.