Infection slip-ups worry watchdog

By FRANCESCA MOLD

The Health and Disability Commissioner is alarmed at the standard of infection control in New Zealand hospitals after a scare in Gisborne Hospital over reuse of syringes.

Ron Paterson listed incidents involving contaminated endoscopes at Christchurch and Rotorua Hospitals and anaesthetic practice at Whangarei and Gisborne as being of particular concern.

"Sometimes, with the best care in the world, hospital patients suffer adverse events," he said.

"What is not acceptable is that people are exposed to infection risks which can be totally eliminated by adherence to proper procedures."

Mr Paterson said professional bodies should take a leading role in promoting safe anaesthetic practice.

His comments come after a Canadian anaesthetist who reused syringes on patients at Gisborne Hospital told health officials he had done so throughout his 20-year career overseas.

The anaesthetist, who worked at Gisborne Hospital for six months, admitted he reused syringes while putting drugs into patients' drips.

Tairawhiti Healthcare has contacted 134 patients anaesthetised by the doctor between October 1999 and March this year, warning them there was a small chance they had been exposed to infections such as HIV and hepatitis B and C.

In the letter, Tairawhiti Healthcare offered to pay for up to three visits to the doctor for each patient.

Chief executive Sheryl Smail said staff discovered the anaesthetist's reuse of syringes during his first two weeks at Gisborne Hospital.

He was told that reusing syringes was against the patient safety policy.

But when an inquiry team contacted him in May, after he had left the hospital, he said he could not be certain he had not done it again.

Ms Smail said Tairawhiti Healthcare had notified the Medical Council about the incident, but she believed little could be done as the anaesthetist had left the country. He had been working under a temporary medical registration and had good references, she said.

The deputy chairman of the New Zealand branch of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, Dr Alan McKenzie, said the organisation was extremely concerned about the Gisborne incident.

The college had met in May to discuss recommendations clarifying its already existing policy against the reuse of syringes. These recommendations would be sent to all anaesthetists.