Pambula District Hospital was left without an on-call doctor to cover the roster at its Emergency Department (ED) last Friday and again on Monday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
One patient from Eden had to be diverted to Bega Hospital on Monday but was later discharged, the Magnet has confirmed.
A Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) spokesman said a number GPs had retired this year which had created the situation.
Two new GPs had been appointed and more appointments were being sought, the spokesman said.
"SNSWLHD has agreed to employ a locum to cover eight days a month - two weekends with four days of cover - but September/October contains additional dates
the local GPs indicated they were not able to cover," he said.
Save Our Hospital president and Bega Valley Shire Council councillor Sharon Tapscott said it was her understanding that the Health Department had guaranteed that any holes in the roster would be covered by locums.
"This clearly has not happened," Mrs Tapscott said.
"It's just another nail in the coffin of our hospital," she said.
The SNSWLHD spokesman said the hospital activated Clinical Operations Standard Operating Procedures (COSOPS) on the two days.
This was normal practice when doctors were unable to undertake ED rosters either because of illness, leave or retirement, he said.
The 24-hour COSOPS status ended at 7am on Tuesday.
"Under COSOPS patient care is not compromised as police, ambulance, referral hospitals, aged care facilities and medical practices are formally notified and no new patients are transferred to the hospital," the spokesman said.
"New acute patients who present to the Pambula Hospital are triaged and assessed by the ED registered nurse.
"If required, patients can be referred to either Bega District Hospital or Canberra Hospital, choose to go to their local GP or go home and return when a doctor is available."
When a doctor was not at the hospital, patients who were unable to make an appointment with their local GP could still go to the hospital for assessment and treatment by a registered nurse, the spokesman said.
"The SNSWLHD has full confidence in the ability of Pambula Hospital nursing staff to undertake their ED roles," the spokesman said.
