QUESTIONS remain about the efficacy of a controversial staffing change in Bendigo Health operating theatres, more than 12 months after the transition.
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They come after the health care group this week launched a new course for nurses working in operating theatres and recovery rooms.
In announcing the new specialty development program, Bendigo Health director of nursing, interventional services Carol-Anne Lever said a particular need was identified in anaesthetics.
“The expansion of surgery and change to the service model in the operating theatres created an opportunity for workforce development,” she said.
Bendigo Health changed its anaesthetic support model in December 2016, replacing an experienced group of anaesthetic technicians with anaesthetic nurses.
Leaders of the city’s anaesthetic craft-group raised concerns about ‘grossly inadequate’ numbers of trained anaesthesia nurses available to perform the work.
“Whilst the Department of Anaesthesia supports the move from a medical technician-assistant model to a nurse-assistant model, we are concerned with the rapidity in progression proposed by management,” written correspondence stated.
The specialists suggested a gradual transition to the new model.
Speaking to the Bendigo Advertiser after the new system was implemented, Bendigo Health acute health executive director Robyn Lindsay said additional staff had been sourced “so we can both continue to provide services safely at the existing site and also do training.”
A Bendigo Health spokesperson yesterday confirmed the health care group uses casual, agency and locum medical and nursing staff across all clinical areas, including in operating theatres.
“It is common practice across the entire health system,” the spokesperson said.
But the proportion of anaesthetic nursing shifts filled by agency nurses, and the associated expense, remains unknown.
“This new training program is an important step in building increased numbers of skilled peri-anaesthetic nurses for our region,” the Bendigo Health spokesperson said.
“This will reduce the need for access to casual staff.”
Bendigo Health clinical nurse educator Nadia Ticehurst yesterday told the city’s media a ‘massive shortage’ of experienced peri-anaesthetic, anaesthetic and recovery nurses had influenced the development of the new program.
“It came from the theory of, if we can’t recruit experienced nurses, we train our own,” Ms Ticehurst said.
Speaking to the Bendigo Advertiser in June, Victorian opposition health spokesperson Mary Wooldridge was of the belief Bendigo Health was filling more than 100 anaesthetic nursing shifts per week with agency staff, at a cost of $100,000 a month.
Ms Wooldridge yesterday welcomed news of the new course, but maintained her calls on the government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the anaesthetic support model at Bendigo Health.
“Additional education is always worthwhile, but it will be at least 12 months until these nurses are appropriately trained and skilled for the operating theatres,” she said.
“In the meantime, displaced anaesthetic technicians have to watch from the sidelines despite being ready willing and able to do the job right now.”
The former anaesthetic technicians have taken on roles as theatre technicians.
“In Victoria there is no longer an education pathway for gaining the vocational qualification of anaesthetic technician,” a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said.
“Transition to the anaesthetic nurse model provides a sustainable strategy for supporting surgical activity at our health services into the long term.
“The change from the anaesthetic technician model to an anaesthetic nursing model brought Bendigo into line with the organisational practices of the majority of hospitals throughout Victoria.”
Ms Wooldridge also raised concerns about the performance of the operating theatre in light of elective surgery statistics for the third quarter of last year.
Although the most urgent surgeries were being performed within 30 days, fewer elective surgery patients at Bendigo Health in the 2016-17 financial year underwent operations within recommended time frames.
A Bendigo Health spokesperson told the Bendigo Advertiser earlier this month the health care group placed great importance on ensuring patients requiring urgent treatment received it within the recommended time.
“Bendigo Health has expanded surgical activity, taking advantage of the increased availability of theatre space and time in the new Bendigo hospital,” they said.
The health service is also outsourcing surgeries, though Bendigo Health did not specify how many.
“Bendigo Health is pleased to work in partnership with a number of health services in our region to enhance access to surgery for our community,” a spokesperson said.