Wait times for elective surgery at Armadale Kelmscott Memorial Hospital will blow out.
Camera IconWait times for elective surgery at Armadale Kelmscott Memorial Hospital will blow out. Credit: Supplied/David Baylis

Elective surgery wait times at Armadale Kelmscott Memorial Hospital to blow out

Rick LeeComment News

An East Metropolitan Health Authority spokeswoman defended the change, saying activity levels were unaffected since the hospital condensed elective surgery to four days, beginning on February 6.

AMAWA president Andrew Miller dismissed claims by the EMHA that operating theatre closures were part of ongoing efforts to improve patient experience and hospital efficiency.

“For the EMHA to come out and say that the decision would somehow improve the experience of patients is ludicrous,” he said.

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“We know that certain elective surgery procedures have waiting times of up to 12 months. Cutting all elective surgery on Fridays is not going to improve that.”

He warned that staff morale at the hospital was at an all-time low with nursing staff facing job losses, a claim the EMHS denied, saying theatre staff who normally worked Fridays would be redeployed across the hospital, with surplus staff given training to improve skills.

“Theatre staff are not replacing any ward staff,” the EMHS spokeswoman said.

Dr Miller said hospital administration made the decision without consulting frontline staff.

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