The Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital has been beset with ‘teething’ problems. Source: News Corp Australia
FRUSTRATED parents have lashed out at the head of Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital after she took to social media to play down reports of cancelled surgery.
Children’s Health Queensland CEO Fionnagh Dougan posted a statement on Facebook denying claims that patients who needed major operations had been turned away from the $1.5 billion facility because of a lack of beds.
A message from Fionnagh Dougan, Chief Executive of Children’s Health Queensland: I’d like to reassure all Queensland…Posted by Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service on Sunday, 7 June 2015
But Ms Dougan said elective surgery was “on occasion” postponed when emergencies arose.
Her comments attracted several angry replies from parents dissatisfied with the treatment of their children at the hospital, which opened on November 29.
Elaine Diphoorn said her daughter was categorised as needing urgent treatment in December but would not have been able to undergo surgery until late February.
Parents also complained about cancelled appointments or long waits to see specialists, arguing that issues should have been rectified by now.
Other parents praised the quality of Lady Cilento’s staff, however, saying they provided first-class care.
Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital CEO Fionnagh Dougan holds a press conference to respond to the Courier-Mail report. Source: News Corp Australia
An independent three-member panel will this week begin assessing submissions made as part of a review into the commission of the facility, which is an amalgamation of the Royal Children’s and the Mater Children’s hospitals.
An earlier clinical review found the hospital suffered a range of teething problems including lack of vital medical equipment such as oxygen and catheter lines, limited availability of food outside meal times, and confusion over transport.
Incoming Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Chris Zappala said the problems were a distraction to staff.
“They have had a big job to do, those people over there, to amalgamate services into one statewide service,” he said.
“There’s a little bit of frustration but they are all very dedicated, very committed … I think if we just get the conversation going, then we will be fine.”