THE former head of Obstetrics at Flinders Medical Centre has flatly rejected State Government claims that only 10 to 15 of the sickest babies will be affected by planned reforms, instead insisting the annual figure is about 260 babies.
Professor Warren Jones AO posted on the Save the FMC NICU Facebook page to clarify the number of infants affected by plans to shift the most acutely ill newborns (Level 6 neonates) to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital when it is co-located on the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site.
Health Minister Jack Snelling said the changes would only affect around 10 to 15 such babies and immediately dismissed Prof Jones’ claim, saying: “He is just wrong.”
Mr Snelling said babies go to FMC from all over the state and for many families, the WCH would be closer.
However, Prof Jones wrote: “The public attempts by the Minister and his advisers to minimise the effects of the proposed closures of the FMC Level 6 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit have resulted in a confusing portrayal of the numbers of babies likely to be transferred out of the Unit.
“The numbers 10 or 15 ‘very small babies’ have been bandied about in attempts to allay community fears.
“In fact the number is around 260 potential transferees and includes not only low birth weight/preterm babies, but many others who require Level 6 care.”
Prof Jones went on to warn the downgrading was a threat to FMC’s overall neonatal services.
“The gradual but relentless erosion of the workload of the unit will result in its closure,” he wrote.
“This in turn will lead to loss of staff, loss of medical and training posts in obstetrics and neonatal care, otherwise unnecessary transfer/referral of complicated obstetric cases to the WCH, and ultimately the downgrading of maternal/neonatal services from Tertiary to Secondary status.”
Opposition Leader Steven Marshall seized on the comments, saying: “The Government has been caught red-handed by attempts to mislead the people of South Australia.
“They were saying downgrading the Noarlunga ED to a walk-in clinic would only result in 500 to 1000 transfers to FMC’s ED but the doctors at Noarlunga have come out publicly to say it will be more like 22,000.
“Now their claim that only 10 to 15 of the sickest babies will be affected by closing beds at the FMC neonatal ICU is shown to be completely wrong and it will be more like 260 babies a year.”
Mr Marshall called on the Government to extend the Transforming Health consultation period beyond February 27, which Mr Snelling rejected.
“We have been talking about changes needed in our health system for the last nine months, it’s nice that Opposition Leader has finally joined the debate but we are not going to extend it simply because he has finally made it to the starting line,” Mr Snelling said.
He noted Prof Jones had not worked as FMC for some years and said his claim about baby numbers was “Just wrong, he is plainly wrong.”
“In terms of babies who are going to have to travel further, it is in the order of 10 to 15 a year,” he said.