A replacement central monitoring system is being sought for Dunedin Hospital's emergency department (ED) after the system failed last mont
A temporary system is in place until the Southern District Health Board finds a replacement.
Emergency medicine and surgery group manager Colleen Coop said the system failed on April 19 and was replaced with a temporary system a week later.
The central monitoring system collected, stored, and displayed information from vital signs monitors throughout the department, she said.
"These monitors continuously provide observations [and] information of acutely unwell patients."
The central monitor recorded events which clinicians could access for patient reviews.
The system, which was more than 12 years old, failed because it was "old", Ms Coop said.
"It is acknowledged that the central monitor provides an important function for the emergency department, therefore the emergency department provided extra nursing staff for the one-week period that it took for the lease equipment to arrive."
No adverse events occurred during the week without a central monitor, she said.
The leased replacement, costing $4000 a month, would be used while the board sought a replacement through a tender process.
"The lease costs for three months were unbudgeted and the new equipment will be a substantial part of next year's capital budget. However, these costs are recognised costs of running a health service."
The new version would have all the most up-to-date features of modern technology and would deliver an improved service, she said.
Asked whether health staff had raised concerns about the equipment issue, Ms Coop said both a clinician and nursing staff did.
"The process to replace this equipment was commenced immediately after these concerns were raised."
