Tauranga Hospital improving says report

By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE

Tauranga Hospital's strongly criticised emergency department has had a much-needed boost from a Ministry of Health audit.

The official scrutiny shows the department - under fire this year from Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson - is "making good progress".

In an April report, Mr Paterson said the department was overcrowded, understaffed and a risk to patient safety.

Four deaths have been linked to failures in the department over the last three years.

Mr Paterson called for the ministry audit after concerns about three of the deaths.

The family of a fourth person who died at the hospital last year have since lodged a complaint with the commissioner.

Ministry spokesman Colin Feek said he was pleased the audit showed that most of Mr Paterson's recommendations had been completed and the rest were "on track".

Dr Feek, the ministry's deputy director-general of clinical services, said it was clear the Bay of Plenty District Health Board had made a commitment to addressing its emergency department services.

Improvements included:

* A new system to alleviate waiting times at peak periods.

* A more streamlined process of GP referrals for patients seeking acute admissions.

* More patients accommodated in the emergency department.

* Increased education and awareness among staff on the management of meningococcal disease.

A recommendation to educate the community about the appropriate use of emergency services was being met, including employing cinema advertising to reach frequent users such as holidaymakers, Dr Feek said.

Health board chief executive Ron Dunham welcomed the favourable audit. Staff worked extremely hard and were very dedicated, he said.

In July, the hospital undertook a public relations exercise to counter criticism and assure patients that services were improving.

Nurse manager Lee Allsop said staff had been getting comments such as "We know you kill people here".

Hospital manager Alan Wilson said two months ago that bad press had created an impression that "everything is suddenly turning to custard". Nothing could be further from the truth, he said.

Last week, local MP Winston Peters said Tauranga Hospital was in desperate need of extra funding from the ministry "before a disaster happens".

Approval for the $37 million first stage of a $100 million revamp to see the hospital through another 20 years was knocked back last month.

The ministry's capital committee deferred a decision until next month.

The story so far

* April report slates hospital as being a risk to patient safety.

* Ministry of Health audit called for over patient deaths.

* In July, hospital undertakes PR exercise to counter criticism and assure patients that improvements are being made.