The Southern District Health Board has apologised for getting its facts wrong in a public statement about sterilisation practices at Dunedin Hospital.
After the Public Service Association complained about the board reusing a single-use gynaecological item on patients, the board said that until recently, that practice was supported by the suppliers' advice.
But this was incorrect, chief medical officer Dr Nigel Millar told the Otago Daily Times after the PSA accused the board of supplying misleading information.
‘‘The supplier advises us that, to their knowledge, the pessaries have been single-use for at least five years.
‘‘I therefore acknowledge that there was an error in my statement made to the ODT.
‘‘I apologise unreservedly and take full responsibility for the incorrect information supplied.''
Dr Millar said there had been no intention to mislead the public, and concerned patients could contact the hospital. The reuse practice has stopped.
The board stands by its earlier assurance women were not at risk of infection from the practice, and says for 40 years it has safely reprocessed the pessaries for reuse.
But PSA organiser Julie Morton said the health board ‘‘continues to mislead'', as the items had ‘‘never been reusable''.
‘‘I found the detail by asking one member of sterile supply, who then emailed the manufacturer in the US. The information was not at all hard to come by.''
Mrs Morton is supporting a sterile supply staff member who has felt unable to raise concerns about work practices without the help of the union. The board and the PSA also disagree about when a single-use medical device policy was introduced at the board.
Mrs Morton said affected women should be told.
‘‘Those involved who are refusing to tell these women should be ashamed of themselves. Informed consent is not something you can as a DHB choose to offer, or choose to deny.''
Mrs Morton has called for a Ministry of Health review of sterilisation practices at Dunedin Hospital, but in a statement the ministry said it was satisfied with the board's handling of the matter.
● Concerned patients should contact Dunedin Hospital patient affairs on (03) 474-9533.
