Clinical leader for emergency dept

Dunedin Hospital's emergency department has a clinical leader, Dr Caroline Collins, nearly a year after her predecessor stepped down over staff numbers.

A memo advising Dr Collins had accepted the position was sent to staff yesterday. Dr Collins, a specialist, has worked in the department since 2010. The appointment takes immediate effect.

The leadership position has been vacant since Dr Tim Kerruish's sudden resignation last March.

The department was in better shape than a year ago, senior doctors' union representative Dr John Chambers said yesterday.

A new observation unit, opened in August, had improved its performance.

''The new ward, which we waited so long for, is ticking over very nicely. It's helping improve our performance quite a bit,'' Dr Chambers said.

Doctors were in a standoff with management for months over staff numbers, which the board said were adequate. However, it eventually relented, agreeing to hire another 2.9 specialists.

Dr Chambers said interviews for new specialists would be held soon; the positions attracted high-calibre applications. Patient services executive director Lexie O'Shea said, in a statement, the board was ''delighted'' Dr Collins had accepted the appointment.

Managers were working closely with doctors and nurses, and there was a ''strong sense'' relationships had improved since last year, she said.

A report to today's hospital advisory committee meeting says the extra specialists would reduce decision-making delays.

The Dunedin ED met the six-hour treatment time for 91.4% of patients in January, the report said. This compared with 91.5% in December and 90.1% in November. eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz