THE IDENTIFIED NEED
The Daily Examiner, 31 July 2018, p.1:
Grafton Base Hospital will offer inpatient mental health services when a $263.8million redevelopment is funded.
For the first time the Northern NSW Local Health District has made the hospital its number one priority in its Asset Strategic Plan for 2018/19.
The Daily Examiner, 20 October 2018, p.4:
In July the Northern NSW Local Health District made a rebuild of the hospital its top priority for the coming year at a cost of $263.8million.
It’s report on the priority listing noted the hospital was close to capacity with inpatient beds, emergency, renal dialysis and chemotherapy infrastructure expected to reach capacity by 2022 and infrastructure for ambulatory care services was to reach capacity in 2020.
It also noted the construction of Australia’s largest jail, due for completion south of Grafton at the end of 2020, would also place stresses on the region’s health services.
The Daily Examiner, 22 November 2018, p.5:
Clarence Valley Council has also thrown its support behind the redevelopment of the Grafton Base Hospital.
It will write to the premier, deputy premier, minister for health, and member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis expressing its support for the $263.8m redevelopment.
THE HALF-PROMISES BEGIN
The Daily Examiner, 8 December 2018, p.22:
More hospital funding remains in his sights with the potential $268 million rebuild of the tired piece of infrastructure.
The Daily Examiner, 19 December 2018, p. 9:
Mr Gulaptis said he was continuing to pressure the government to allocate the $268 million funding for the hospital…..
Clarence
Valley Independent, 13 March 2019:
The Daily Mercury, 31 July 2020:
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North Coast Voices, 21 February 2021:
PUBLIC HOSPITAL ELECTIVE SURGERY MEDIAN WAITING TIMES IN NORTH-EAST NSW......
Grafton Base Hospital:
Hip replacement - the median wait was 6 days in 2011-12 and blew out to 77 days by 2017-18 and latest figures for 2019-20 stand at 67 days.
Total knee replacement - the median wait was 10 days in 2011-12 and blew out to 145 days by 2017-18 and latest figures for 2019-20 stand at 135 days.
Shoulder joint replacement - the wait was 8 days in 2016-17 and blew out to 11 days by 2017-18 and latest figures for 2019-20 stand at less than 5 days.
Ophthalmology - the median wait was 285 days in 2011-12 and latest figures for 2019-20 stand at 326 days, the highest median waiting time in the last nine financial years.
Between July and September 2020 a total of 652 unspecified elective surgery procedures were performed.
Clarence Valley Independent, 10 August 2022:
The Clarence Valley Independent hit the streets last week and asked members of the public to share their thoughts after the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) revealed Grafton Base Hospital (GBH) had no on-site obstetrician, or available locums to cover shortages, and subsequently, expectant and birthing mothers were being referred to Lismore Base Hospital and Coffs Harbour Health Campus.
The NNSWLHD released a second statement two days later, announcing staff had altered their rosters to ensure previously advised gaps in specialist obstetrician cover were filled.....
THE PROMISES CONTINUE AND SO DO THE PROBLEMS
NSW Nationals, media release, 25 January 2023:
Regional Health and Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor, Nationals’ Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis, and Nationals’ candidate for Clarence Richie Williamson have announced a major step forward in the $264 million Grafton Base Hospital redevelopment.
ABC News, 25 January 2023:
After her knee replacement surgery was cancelled twice last year, Yamba woman Rosalind Walsh could not bear to think it might happen again.
The 72-year-old was scheduled this week for orthopaedic work at Grafton Base Hospital in northern New South Wales, but was called on the day by hospital management asking her to stay home.
"They just said, 'We don't have a bed'," Ms Walsh said.
"They said, 'We can't do the surgery, but you're still booked in'."
Anaesthetist & former Grafton Medical Staff Council chair Allan Tyson said there were real repercussions for people who missed out.
"It is common," he said.
"We have to say, 'Sorry, you have to go home because the surgery can't be done'.
"It's not just elective surgery, if you can't walk."
Dr Tyson said the Grafton hospital was operating well beyond its capacity.
"We've got 18 patients in a ward today that is funded for eight patients," he said.
"Last week our fly-in surgeon missed out on three or four joint surgeries that we should have done, but didn't have the bed space.
"In the end, it's our patients that miss out."
For Rosalind Walsh, however, a long wait outside the hospital was worth it.
The ABC understands hospital management was able to redirect patients from the emergency department, resulting in a spare bed so Ms Walsh could have her knee surgery & recover in hospital.
Paid doctors with nowhere to work
Northern NSW Local Health District chief executive Wayne Jones said surgeons, including those flying in to regional hospitals to help reduce elective surgery waitlists, were at times unable to operate.
"As chief executive it hurts to the bone to pay money I'm not getting a return on," he said.
"The reality is at times you can't avoid that.
"There is [an] unprecedented bed block that we're experiencing."
Mr Jones said administrators were planning as much as they could.
"It is worth noting that we're seeing a real decline in those overdue waits, over the last four or five months, as we're starting to develop more models of care," he said.
"We're doing surgery in our smaller facilities, we're freeing up beds & facilities in places like Grafton, so we are getting through more."
NSW Regional Health Minister Bronnie Taylor visited the hospital this week to commit to a new $274-million new hospital in Grafton — a similar pledge to a 2019 state election promise…...
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