Extra doctors called to staff ED
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has asked doctors to work extra shifts in the emergency department this weekend, amid concerns it could not cope with an expected influx of patients.
A leaked email from the hospital's human resources office blamed the doctor shortage on the relocation of services and patients from Fremantle Hospital to Fiona Stanley Hospital, which starts tomorrow.
It said the hospital was likely to experience a much higher volume of patient admissions.
"We are quite concerned there will not be enough doctors rostered on the weekend to deal with the influx of patients and additional workload," the email said.
Almost 200 patients are due to be transferred from Fremantle and Royal Perth hospitals tomorrow and next Saturday, and Fremantle's emergency department will close permanently on Tuesday to coincide with the opening of a new casualty department at Fiona Stanley Hospital. The Australian Medical Association said despite WA Health Department assurances this week that the moves had been meticulously planned for almost two years, it appeared someone forgot to tell SCGH.
WA president Michael Gannon said it was disappointing staffing at one of Perth's busiest hospitals seemed to have been forgotten.
"While the scale of the hospital reconfiguration project should not be underestimated, sending out emails to staff a handful of days before, in another part of the hospital system, does smack of not being well-prepared," he said.
A North Metropolitan Health Service spokeswoman said there would be enough staff.
"To assist with the transition of clinical services from Fremantle Hospital to Fiona Stanley Hospital, SCGH is expecting a higher volume of patient admissions," she said.
"Hospital management invited junior doctors to volunteer for additional shifts in the unlikely event any of the rostered staff were unable to work."
