Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) has responded to threats from doctors to tender their resignation from Milton Ulladulla Hospital (MUH) as being totally unnecessary.
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The general practitioner visiting medical officers (GP VMOs) have threatened to hand in their resignation following the employment of two nurse practitioners in the Emergency Department.
The GP VMOs fear their services are being pushed out of the hospital and believe this is further proof ISLHD is planning to introduce a nurses-first model of care.
The group claim they were not consulted regarding the introduction of the nurses and say this model will place patients in grave danger.
However, ISLHD chief executive Margot Mains said in a statement to The Times “the GP VMOs have been involved in discussions since October about the proposal to strengthen staffing levels at Milton Ulladulla Hospital Emergency Department during the busy summer holiday period.”
“At the time, the GP VMOs indicated they were supportive of the plan and would work collaboratively with the Nurse Practitioners as well as would work through practical logistics.
“It is therefore surprising to learn they are no longer supportive of this collaborative approach to caring for the community at the busiest time of the year.”
ISLHD said hospital management have contacted the Chair of Milton’s Medical Staff Council to directly hear their concerns.
“We will continue to work with the GPs toward developing harmonious working arrangements between them and the Nurse Practitioners, as agreed at the meeting in October,” Ms Mains said.
ISLHD’s move to increase staffing in MUH ED over the holiday period has been prompted by figures showing the number of people presenting to the unit increased by almost 40 per cent during this time.
“The inclusion of Nurse Practitioners is not a new concept,” Ms mains said.
“The benefit is having additional staff, with a more varied skill mix, within the Milton ED.
“It allows us to better prepare for the influx of patients over this period, especially those with less serious conditions.
“Nurse Practitioners have a vast range of clinical skills and are able to support doctors to provide timely, safe and efficient care, especially for less serious conditions.
“This then allows the doctors to treat those patients who are more seriously unwell or injured.”
Nurse Practitioners are skilled in the treatment of conditions including; limb injuries and musculoskeletal pain, respiratory presentations, urinary tract infections, deep vein thrombosis diagnosis and management, and wound management.
ISLHD maintain the decision to add two nurse practitioners to MUH’s ED unit over Christmas is simply an initiative to deal with increasing demand.
“The aim has always been for nurses to continue to work collaboratively with the doctors to provide timely and safe care, so residents and visitors can get back to the holidays rather than waiting in ED,” Ms Mains said.
MUH ED is set to have increased staffing levels, including the two nurse practitioners until February 12, 2017.
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