Vic du Plessis
Wakari Hospital's rehabilitation ward might be
compromised if Dunedin loses neurosurgery services to
Christchurch, warns the ward's rehabilitation specialist Dr Vic
du Plessis.
Dr du Plessis, who is also a neurologist, said the Isis
Centre's long-term financial viability could be at stake if
neurosurgery services were moved from Dunedin.
Dr du Plessis fears Christchurch's Burwood Hospital might
start receiving Otago and Southland patients needing
rehabilitation if they received neurosurgery in Christchurch.
This would reduce funding, particularly from ACC, which often
paid for months or years of rehabilitation.
Losing funding for neurosurgery rehabilitation would place an
extra financial burden on the Southern District Health Board
to fund the unit, he said.
A patient's rehabilitation was better close to home where
they could be supported by family.
The 26-bed unit at Wakari was well-resourced and had a strong
focus on readying people mentally, and physically, for life
after discharge from hospital.
Self-contained flats on-site provided an affordable place for
families to stay on the hospital grounds, if necessary.
A strong outpatient service supported discharged patients.
A small number of neurosurgery cases were transferred to
Christchurch when no neurosurgeons were available in Dunedin.
Dr du Plessis said that when those patients were discharged
home to Otago or Southland, they did not receive the
follow-up they would get if they had been treated in Dunedin.
Sometimes, this led to further medical problems.
He acknowledged Burwood Hospital would have to expand if it
was to handle Otago and Southland patients.
As well as the rehabilitation issue, Dr du Plessis was
concerned about transfer time to Christchurch for patients
urgently needing neurosurgery.
Patients at Wakari were sometimes unstable and if their
condition deteriorated they could be at Dunedin Hospital for
surgery within 20 minutes.
Dr du Plessis wrote to Southern District Health Board chief
executive Brian Rousseau two weeks ago about his concerns.
About 60 Wakari Hospital staff signed the letter.
eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz
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