NSW: Less acute patients more at risk in hospital, inquiry told

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2008
NSW: Less acute patients more at risk in hospital, inquiry told

The father of a teenage girl who died in a Sydney hospital after a golf ball struck
her in the head .. says people admitted to public hospitals in non-life threatening conditions
are at risk.

WARREN ANDERSON's given evidence this morning to the special commission of inquiry
into acute care services in NSW public hospitals.

The emotional father lambasted the system over the circumstances which led to the death
of his 16 year old daughter VANESSA.

He read a letter from a neurosurgeon who resigned from Royal North Shore two months
before VANESSA'S death .. because administrative bottlenecks were sabotaging the system.

Mr ANDERSON told the inquiry patients whose lives weren't at risk were the most vulnerable
.. but people in intensive care were most likely to receive exceptional treatment.

He said procedures for middle range patients should be standardised across the state
.. to help doctors and nurses who rotate from one hospital to another.

AAP RTV vjm/wjf/bart

KEYWORD: HEALTH NSW FATHER (SYDNEY)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.