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27th January 2017

PRESS RELEASE IN RESPONSE TO AN ARTICLE IN THEBENDIGO ADVERTISER ON26TH JAN 2017 CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION OF NEONATAL SURGERY AT BENDIGO HOSPITAL

The AAAHP Executive Committee has issued the following press release today in response to the Bendigo Advertiser article published on 26th January 2017 concerning the suspension of neonatal surgery at Bendigo Hospital.

Until today AAAHP has refrained from commenting on the recent change from the anaesthetic technician as the anaesthetic assistant to the anaesthetic nurse model at Bendigo hospital. This was due to the fact that the Bendigo anaesthetic technicians chose not to be members of AAAHP. However with the report in yesterday’s Bendigo Advertiser highlighting the implications of inadequately trained anaesthetic nurses AAAHP feels it is now an appropriate time to voice its considered opinion upon this matter.

AAAHP:-

  • Strongly believes that the ANZCA guidelines for the training of anaesthesia assistantsare in place for a good reason –that of patient safety. Any attempt to play down their importance is a disregard of this hugely important factor.
  • Wishes to make clear that allour membersmustsatisfy these ANZCA guidelines before they are placed on the AAAHP voluntary register.
  • Notes with dismay the surreptitious erosion of anaesthetic technician posts in Victorian public hospitals, instigated by nursing hierarchy; over a period of the last 20 years.
  • Highlights that the lack of such positions and the reluctance of hospitals to employ anaesthetic technicians has led to training courses for anaesthetic technicians in Victorianot being viable; as few if any hospitals have been willing to take anaesthetic technician diploma students on placement. When the students do qualify they find it almost impossible to find work in Victoria and move interstate or are forced to retrain in another discipline.
  • Believes that the Model of Care the Victorian Health Minister praises so highlyhas been compromised by the way it is has been implemented not only at Bendigo but also other Victorian public hospitals.
  • Suggests that the Minister commissions an independent audit of compliance to ANZCA guidelines for anaesthesia assistants (PS08) by anaesthesia nurses in public and private hospitals in Victoria to ascertain how Victorian public hospitals measure up to these national safety guidelines.
  • Is concernedof the consequences for the public should a similar Model of Carebe planned for other Victorian public hospitals employing non-nursing anaesthetic assistants, namely the Royal Children's Hospital.

AAAHP would welcome the opportunity to take part in any working group or forum considering this specific issue with the objective of improved patient safety outcomes.

Executive Committee

AAAHP

AAAHP Letterhead1/2016Original Date: 2012

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