Surgical trainees warned off Dunedin

Dick Bunton.
Dick Bunton.
Surgical trainees have been warned to avoid seeking placement at Dunedin Hospital, because its trainee orthopaedic surgeon positions have been removed for a year.

The Resident Doctors' Association told members in an email alert yesterday the training loss had ''potential knock-on impacts'' for surgical training other than just orthopaedics.

''Don't go there - that's the underlying message in the email [for surgical trainees].

''If you do, be aware that a doctor's ability to progress in training in that area is going to be severely restricted,'' RDA national secretary Deborah Powell told the Otago Daily Times.

The loss had ''wider implications'' for surgical training because of how the system was structured to give broad experience.

Ms Powell said the health board was not communicating with the union about the situation.

Her warning angered Southern District Health Board patient services medical director Dick Bunton, who labelled it ''pathetic'' and ''irresponsible''.

Surgical trainees other than in orthopaedics were unaffected, he said.

The board had addressed issues raised by the professional body, but still lost the positions, he said.

Mr Bunton said the department technically retained accreditation as a training unit, but would not be allocated trainees for a year.

''The effect is the same, in reality, but I'm just being careful to use the exact words they've used in the letter to us,'' Mr Bunton said.

The hospital had two trainee positions for orthopaedics, and would now fill the positions with registrars.

It follows the loss of training accreditation in the intensive care unit last year.

Junior doctors were applying for spots for the training year, which starts in December this year.

Surgical trainees needed to move quickly if they wanted to apply elsewhere after learning of the training issue, Ms Powell said.

Ms Powell said she received confirmation from the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association about the accreditation issue.

The health board had not responded to the union's query on the matter.

Young doctors put much effort and resources into their education, and needed good information about their options.

Training might be reinstated for the following year, but surgical trainees would be ''gambling'' on an uncertain outcome if they went to Dunedin, she believed.

The board seemed to be ''tied up in bureaucracy'' with ''multiple layers of managers''.

''Why was this issue not identified and dealt with months ago? Dunedin's reputation as a health training city was potentially at risk.

''There is the potential for the lack of confidence in the overall training environment. Losing two accreditations ... you do get to a point where the compounding effects would risk confidence amongst resident doctors in the district health board.''

The union wanted resident doctors to train in Dunedin, and wanted to be part of finding solutions to the board's problems, Ms Powell said.

Mr Bunton was blunt when asked about Ms Powell's concerns.

''It's pathetic,'' Mr Bunton said of the warning to surgical trainees.

''Quote me please that it's totally and utterly irresponsible, it doesn't affect any other trainee surgical-wise.''

The professional association had two specific concerns: a case load issue concerning a dedicated orthopaedic trauma list, and concerns over supervision.

The board believed it addressed the concerns, but the two trainee positions had been withdrawn.

Mr Bunton believed the association had not considered the board's response, and was not sure why.

Mr Bunton was confident the trainee positions would be reinstated for the December 2016 intake.

The second accreditation loss recently, it was ''not a good look'' for Dunedin Hospital, he said.

The board was making progress on a plan to upgrade the intensive care unit, as the facility was a factor in the withdrawal of training accreditation by the relevant professional body.

A business case for the ICU upgrade with full costings would be presented to the Ministry of Health this month.

Mr Bunton declined to disclose the expected cost.

eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

 


Training accreditation

• Overseen by specialist colleges and associations.

• Training hospitals must meet supervision, case load, and facility requirements.

• Withdrawn accreditation can be reinstated if requirements met.

• Orthopaedics the second training accreditation loss in Dunedin recently.


 

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