The BMSC can report that the return to day surgery services has so far been successful. The temporary alert system in place is working, providing a necessary cordon of safety for patients treated in the operating suite. Since Monday nearly fifty procedures have been performed (including some emergencies) without incident, and over thirty procedures planned before the end of the week. This output is a credit to the hardworking and vigilant theatre staff who have all been keen to resume services in a safer environment. Credit is also due to the administrative staff who have worked hard to make inroads into the myriad of problems presented by the new facility. We look forward to the installation of the permanent alert system across the operating suite over the next month.

On a broader front many of the hospital-wide communication issues have been greatly improved. The paging system is operational and is tested daily. The temporary mobile ‘cell-on-wheels’ is working. Switchboard operators have been given more resources to coordinate their system. A software upgrade now allows them to retrieve phone numbers more quickly. While it is still not ideal, ongoing issues will be worked on over time and the current situation is a vast improvement on that of even a week ago.

In assessing the relative safety of Bathurst Base Hospital, the BMSC has had to consider balancing the risks of proceeding with major elective surgery in the new facility with the risks to the community of delaying definitive treatments and burdening neighbouring facilities such as Lithgow, Orange and Cowra with a load they are struggling to bear. In particular it is now clear for elective and emergency obstetrics that a safe and efficient service based in Bathurst plays an indispensable role within the whole region.  

BMSC therefore believes that the balance of risk is now clearly in favour of recommencing inpatient elective surgical services in a staged manner and monitoring the increase in activity over the next few weeks.

Nevertheless many problems remain; indeed new issues continue to come to light. Most of these issues will require a fundamental rethink of the design and build of several parts of the facility. These include the emergency department, ICU, operating theatre, the paediatric ward and clinic areas, maternity, the special care nursery, the rehabilitation ward, the drug and alcohol clinic, the radiology department, the residents’ quarters and the mental health unit. Vehicular access to the facility will also need to be redesigned. The BMSC understand that several independent reviews including an OH&S review by the WorkCover Authority are underway.

Finally there remain those essential services for which there is still no allocated space: the outpatient Ambulatory Care Unit, which was the rationale for cutting bed numbers in several wards; antenatal and other outpatient clinics; under- and post-graduate education facilities, which are fundamental attractors for good professionals to our region. With demolition proceeding on the old facility the future of these services remains unresolved.

The BMSC has welcomed the clear public and private undertakings made by both the Minister for Health, Reba Meagher, and her appointed mediator, Sir Ian Sinclair, to fix these problems. There is clear evidence that GWAHS and the Department of Health are highly motivated to carry out a full remediation.

In light of this Sir Ian Sinclair and representatives from GWAHS and the Department of Health have agreed to reconstitute the clinical user groups who tried to give their input in the initial consultation process. There will also be an oversight group made up of representatives of GWAHS and senior clinicians to provide consensus ‘sign-off’ of the redesign.

The process of information gathering, consultation, redesign and ultimate rectification will take many months. The BMSC is confident that with hard work, enthusiasm and goodwill from all sides, the clinicians and the community of Bathurst can help GWAHS and the Department of Health return to Bathurst the hospital that was promised: a safe healing environment that will meet the needs of the region now and for decades to come, and to make safety an integral part of the way we deliver health care to regional communities.