SASMOA IS PROUD TO JOIN THE FIGHT FOR
PROPER STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT AT
SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
& PROPER PLANNING FOR A NEW HOSPITAL
JOIN THE FIGHT FOR PROPER STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT AT YOUR WCH
The Women's and Children's Hospital has a proud history of providing outstanding services to the people of South Australia.
But that is now in the balance.
Critical services at the hospital are being understaffed and medical equipment is not being funded adequately.
The result is stressed and fatigued doctors, nurses and other staff, and services that are stretched to the limit - some at breaking point.
Already families are having to travel interstate for some services which should be provided at our Women's and Children.
Planning for a new hospital is moot if the services that can be offered are run down before any move.
It's time for the State Government to properly resource services and equipment at the Women's and Children's Hospital - follow the campaign below.
VIDEO
In October 2019, more than 200 doctors at the Women's and Children's Hospital signed a letter regarding under-resourcing at the Hospital and its effects on patients and health professionals. This short video tells some of their stories.
"I support clinicians' rights to speak out."
SA Health Minister Stephen Wade, Sunday Mail, p.5, 1 March 2020 (read the story)
MEDIA on the
current
hospital
Click on a story below to open it in a new window
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Emergency department overcrowding at the Women's and Children's "the worst it's ever been" - 9 News (21 April 2021)
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Medical Emergency - SA Weekend Magazine (17 April 2021)(PDF)
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Doctors ordered to discharge patients from hospital before ready: union - 9 March 2021 (InDaily, The Advertiser, 10 News, 9 News, 7 News)
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Premature baby's critical surgery cancelled due to budget constraints - 5 March 2021 (10 News, 9 News, 7 News, ABC online)
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Read, Watch - Concerns raised about WCH cancer services (InDaily, ABC Online, 9 News, 7 News, 10 News, The Advertiser)
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Read, Watch - Lack of paediatric cardiac service linked to deaths of four babies at WCH (20 & 21 October 2020) - InDaily, ABC online, 9 News, 7 News, 10 News, ABC TV News (at 8 min 40), Sky News Australia, The Advertiser, The Project )
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SASMOA gives evidence at Select Committee into Health Services in SA (20 October 2020 - transcript)
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Watch - Outdated equipment being used at the Women's and Children's Hospital is putting lives at risk according to the doctor's union (28 Sept 2020) - Ten News
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Watch: Launch of new Women's and Children's Hospital Community Alliance (9 August 2020) - ABC TV News, 7 News and 9 News
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Watch: Doctors speak out on Women's and Children's Hospital resourcing (4 August 2020) - ABC TV News, 7 News and 9 News
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Medicos fume at secrecy directive (1 March 2020) - Sunday Mail
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Doctors at the Women's and Children's Hospital claim the lives of some of the state's most vulnerable patients are in danger due to severe underfunding (20 Feb 2020) - 9 News, 10 News, 7 News
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WCH Faces Crisis as 215 doctors sign a warning - The Advertiser (20 Feb 2020)
GETTING A
NEW HOSPITAL RIGHT
PLANNING IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY FOR A NEW WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
SASMOA is concerned that the "consultation" process run by SA Health for the new Hospital is seriously deficient.
Doctors and other health professionals are not being listened to - and the result could be a hospital that is too small, with insufficient beds and treatment spaces.
Via SASMOA, doctors at the Women's and Children's have now provided critical feedback to the Minister for Health, the Chief Executive of the Health Department and the CEO of the Women's and Children's Hospital regarding the proposed bed numbers, treatments spaces and outpatient rooms for each medical service.
It is a crucial time in the planning for the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital. It is vital the consultation and planning is done properly, or the Government risks spending billions on delivering a facility that is simply not fit-for-purpose.
You can read a summary letter from SASMOA to SA's Minister for Health and Wellbeing here:
YOU CAN READ THE SPECIFIC CONCERNS OF THE DIFFERENT MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE FEEDBACK LETTERS BELOW:
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nWCH - Genetics Feedback (PDF)
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nWCH - Haematology/Oncology (Michael Rice Centre) Feedback (PDF)
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nWCH - PICU Feedback (PDF)
MEDIA
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WCH doctors in 'revolt' over plan - The Advertiser (30 April 2021)
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Clinicians from as many as nine different departments at the Women's and Children's Hospital are refusing to sign off on the government's design brief for a new hospital - 9 News (29 April)
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Clinicians critical of new Women's and Children's Hospital plan due to bed shortage concerns - ABC Online (29 April 2021)
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'House of cards': Govt extends WCH consultation amid clinician warnings - InDaily (29 April 2021)