By Michelle Rafferty and Damien Larkins
A lack of appropriate specialist staff has forced Gold Coast University Hospital to cancel three out of five scheduled days of heart surgeries in one week.
Four urgent cardiac surgery patients were transferred from the hospital to facilities at John Flynn Private Hospital on the southern Gold Coast last week.
Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) clinical director of diagnostic and emergency medicine Dr Mark Forbes said staff shortages meant no-one had been available to operate an essential heart bypass machine during surgery.
He said the hospital had contingency plans in place to bring in specialists from Brisbane or send patients to another local hospital.
“We chose to send our most urgent patients down for surgery at John Flynn Hospital to make sure they weren’t compromised in terms of their health,” he said.
Dr Forbes said reports an administrative bungle caused the cancellations were incorrect.
“We had a whole lot of unfortunate things happen with people unable to complete commitments to us at the last minute,” he said.
“We had realised that we were potentially going to have some difficulties, and hence the contract with John Flynn was ready for us to go.”
Effects of contract dispute with doctors still being felt
The Gold Coast Medical Association said the Queensland health system was still trying to attract and retain staff following the 2014 contract dispute with doctors.
President Stephen Withers said lack of a complete team could lead to disruptions.
“I don’t think people were aware of what was going on, but clearly it’s concerning what has happened,” he said.
Dr Withers said health professionals were attracted by good working conditions.
“The doctors’ dispute was such a bitter encounter,” he said.
“Not only did we lose a lot of doctors from Queensland, but there were a great number of doctors who made a decision not to come to Queensland.”
Dr Forbes said the hospital did not expect further delays to heart surgery.