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The Ministry of Health is to investigate claims from a senior doctor that Grey Base Hospital cannot guarantee patient safety because of a systems failure.
Dr Judy Forbes, joint head of the anaesthetics department, wrote to the West Coast District Health Board with her concerns about a month ago, and addressed the board in person for three minutes at its last meeting.
A copy of a letter written after that meeting has been leaked, and another Grey hospital doctor says it is "entirely factual".
Dr Forbes' letter makes a number of allegations, and raises concerns about the "endless stream" of locums.
Most concerns relate to a new computer system which was brought in around Easter.
The theatre booking system has been moved away from surgeons and replaced by a central booking office at the hospital reception, managed by IT (information technology) staff.
Dr Forbes said some patients had been put on the surgery list for the wrong procedure with the wrong anaesthetic.
Other allegations included patients receiving appointment letters the day after their appointment, a knee replacement patient receiving a letter for a dental procedure, a patient on the list for a two-hour procedure having it done in another hospital six weeks earlier under contract with the West Coast board and a patient given the wrong medical advice by IT staff to stop medications without clinical consultations.
In another alleged incident, an elderly woman admitted for an incarcerated hernia was sent home for a day or two, awaiting equipment from Christchurch. She contacted the booking office a month later as she still didn't have an appointment.
Dr Forbes, who has worked at Grey Base Hospital for 15 years, said most of her time recently was spent "fighting fires".
"In addition to working with an endless stream of locums, surgeons and anaesthetists with unknown skill and experience, I am often the only New Zealand-qualified doctor involved in the patients' care and thus responsible for the outcome."
She also alleged patients were often seen by the surgeon for the first time in the anaesthetic room.
Dr Forbes told the board the hospital didn't meet the Health and Disabilities Service consumers rights code.
Fellow Greymouth anaesthetist Dr Susie Newton said today the letter was "entirely factual".
However, she said she would not comment further as it should not be discussed in the media.
"I am working within the system as well as I can," Dr Newton said.
West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor, who is also Associate Health Minister, told the Greymouth Star today a Ministry of Health official would be sent to Greymouth to investigate.
The DHB said it would release a statement later today.
- NZPA
