Trust promise: Gynae to reopen in a fortnight

Editorial Department Meadhbh Monahan - 1503 • Published 3 Sep 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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The Western Trust have admitted knowing that there would be a shortage of junior doctors to fulfil Obstetrics and Gynaecology roles at the Erne "several weeks" before the doctors were due to take up their posts.

Services in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Ward have been temporarily suspended until September 14 because only one junior doctor turned up on the start date of August 5 and all routine and emergency Gynaecology patients, in-patients and out-patients are now expected to travel to Altnagelvin Area Hospital.

The Trust has claimed that Obstetrics and Gynaecology services will be reinstated at the Erne on September 14 but admitted that the 13 "major operations" who have been referred to Altnagelvin will probably not be treated there for the next few weeks because of a backlog. This means the patients will have to choose whether to be treated in Altnagelvin or return to the Erne after September 14.

A press briefing was held at the Erne Hospital yesterday (Wednesday) given by John Doherty, Director of Women and Children's Services, Kate McDaid, Assistant Director of Health Care with responsibility for Maternity, Dr. Michael Parker, Clinical Director in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Dr. Orla Conlon, Consultant Gynaecologist at the Erne Hospital.

Dr. Conlon promised that local women were not in danger by the temporary suspension of services. She acknowledged that "there is a poor perception of services in the southern sector of the Western Trust." She said that local women are concerned that the suspension of gynaecology services will affect maternity services and they will "have to have their babies in another hospital" but claimed "that will not happen." She said that "Maternity is the centre of this hospital" and claimed that the Trust has pledged their "complete commitment to do everything in our power to continue acute maternity services."

Dr. Conlon also said there will be a "re-evaluation of services and the role of junior doctors" and stated: "As lead clinician for Gynaecology I am committed to providing full acute maternity services at the new (Acute South West) hospital."

Explaining why five of the six junior doctors did not show up to the Erne, Dr. Michael Parker, Clinical Director in Obstetrics and Gynaecology said: "We were aware of problems several weeks before that two doctors were unable to come. Then two days before the start date, on Monday August 2 we were made aware that only one doctor would start on August 5. Two didn't arrive because of family reasons, two because their visas were not cleared and one went to England on a promotion."

He added: "We were aware several weeks before and an ad was placed in paper but after the two week recruitment period there were no applicants.

"At present we have five junior doctors, one with an outstanding Visa. On September 14 we will have six junior doctors in position with the possibility that others will be available by then. Hopefully services will be reinstated to the Erne on September 14."

When asked what input the Trust have in appointing doctors, Dr. Parker said: "All Junior doctors in training are appointed by the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA) in all specialities."

He said that a consultant from each Trust and one from each hospital within that Trust sits on the interview panel and help allocate doctors to certain hospitals but do not have any communication with the new doctor between the interview and the start date.

"Once doctors have been appointed to the hospital, if doctors choose not to come that will be their decision." He added that the Trust "wouldn't have a great impact into NIMDTA as they would be allocating doctors to us."

Dr. Conlon added: "It is very difficult for us to say that these people will turn up; particularly with Obstetrics and Gynae. Less people are coming into this speciality. We have looked in the Republic, UK and EU medical recruitment agencies and there aren't enough doctors there." She also explained that the EU working time directive has stipulated that junior doctors are only allowed to work for 48 hours per week therefore all hospitals are looking for more junior doctors. Dr. Conlon added that most junior doctors are based in Belfast and would take a position there or in the UK rather than a rural area like Fermanagh.

Gynae ward has been the scene of much change at the Erne this year. the dedicated ward has been closed and Gynae beds opened within the Surgical ward earlier this year.

One patient who uses the Gynae ward regularly, who suffers from a very painful condition called endometriosis, said that she felt that the service had definitely got worse since the move to Surgical. "The nurses are under so much pressure. There are not enough staff and beds. People are being shipped all over the place," she said. Paying tribute to nursing staff, she said they were run off their feet, with nurse numbers covering the ward being trimmed at night.

She also spent time at the male end of Surgical Ward as a Gynae patient, as did another elderly female patient. "I think it is an awful way for people to be treated".

The lack of a local Gynae ward would "put her off" seeking treatment, she said. With a young child it would be "impractial" to travel to Altnagelvin.

"They are risking people's lives. When I was in a girl came in with an ectopic pregnancy. They said if her husband had not brought her in when he did, she would have died," she said.

Mrs. Arlene Foster MLA is meeting with Trust Chief Executive Ms. Elaine Way on Friday in Enniskillen, to discuss a range of concerns. "What are they going to do to incentivise doctors coming down here? What steps are they taking? They are saying they have enough doctors in Altnagelvin. What about the rest of us?" she asked.

"Everybody is saying that it [the Gynae ward closure] is not temporary. That shows to me that people have no confidence in it coming back. It is a sad state of affairs that the Trust have brought on themselves."

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 03 Sep 09

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