August 28, 2012
More surgical operations will be able to be done in the South Burnett – which means fewer trips to Toowoomba or Brisbane – when a new full-time surgeon’s position is created at Kingaroy Hospital next year.
The rural generalist surgeon, with advanced surgical skills, would be able to provide specialist surgery two days a fortnight.
A specialist obstetrician / gynaecologist would also be available two days a fortnight.
This is some of the good news to come out of a visit to the South Burnett by the new Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board.
The Board, which was formed in June this year to oversee local health services, held its first country meeting today at Wondai Hospital.
It is responsible for 20 hospitals, four outpatient services, seven aged care facilities, numerous Community Health, Mental Health and Dental Health facilities … and almost 4000 staff.
There was also good news for Nanango residents … Board Chairman Mr Mike Horan said the future of the Nanango Hospital was “absolutely safe”.
However maternity services will not be returning to the smaller hospitals around the South Burnett. The specialised maternity service at Kingaroy Hospital will continue to provide a centralised service.
“It’s the biggest maternity service outside of the big specialist maternity hospitals, with about 450 births a year,” Mr Horan said.
The reasoning is “to provide a safe, quality service and to have enough doctors to support the services being provided”.
A Medical Workforce Plan has been developed which sees four doctors service Murgon and Cherbourg, and about nine FTE doctors at Kingaroy Hospital. A Medical Superintendent (with a right to private practice) is at Nanango Hospital.
“We’ll have enough doctors at Kingaroy, along with visiting medical officers, to cover the birthing centre and other needs,” Mr Horan said.
“We’re also looking at increasing numbers, with a rural generalist surgeon and a visiting surgeon from Toowoomba. From approximately February next year, increased general surgery will be provided at Kingaroy Hospital.”
The availability of renal dialysis would also be increased by 50 per cent at Kingaroy Hospital from 12 chairs to 18 chairs.
Mr Horan said the Board heard concerns today from the Wondai Chamber of Commerce about bed numbers at Wondai Hospital, the need for additional ancilliary services such as physiotherapy, and the need to travel out of town for emergency care.
“We want to improve communication about the Murgon / Cherbourg system,” Mr Horan said.
“Four doctors work full-time for Queensland Health and two are rostered on every weekend – one weekend they’re at Murgon and the alternative weekend, they’re at Cherbourg.”
The Board meeting was a highlight of Chairman Mike Horan’s three-day visit to the South Burnett to talk to local residents, health professionals, business people and councillors to assess local needs.
Yesterday Mr Horan visited Nanango, Murgon and Cherbourg hospitals; today he visited Wondai Hospital and nursing home, and tomorrow he will visit Kingaroy Hospital.
“I have been really impressed by the quality of the staff and leadership at the hospitals. I am impressed by the care and commitment that the staff have to the patients and the facilities. I am impressed by the loyalty and leadership we’ve got here,” Mr Horan said.
He also praised local Cluster Operations Manager Peta Rutherford, who is based in Kingaroy, for working to develop clinical education that will make the South Burnett an attractive choice for medical staff.
However Mr Horan queried how the $2 million upgrade for Kingaroy Hospital, announced on August 23, was being directed.
“We’re yet to to sit down and talk with the Minister,” Mr Horan said.
“The amount has been allocated for planning. Do you need that much for planning? Or could a portion be used to upgrade a portion of the hospital? Could we have the planning done for a lesser amount and have the balance for something of use now?”
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, who along with councillors from the South Burnett and Cherbourg councils met with the Board today, said she would be very supportive of any suggestion of putting something towards services if that helps in the meantime, but she could not discount the need, too, for an upgrade to Kingaroy Hospital.
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- $2m Upgrade For Kingaroy Hospital
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