In an “overall positive” sign,general hospital mortality ratios were found to be below the national average,since mid-2019.
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But two other recent Metro North reports highlighted a greater level of the highest-risk clinical incidents than seen at the other three health service hospitals in the Metro North area.
Those reports also found spikes in unplanned returns to operating theatres in April 2020 and March this year,with more investigation needed.
The review was critical of formal safety incident reporting,which missed important contributing factors,including three instances in which staff failed to recognise that a patient may have been experiencing sepsis,two missed diagnoses,and one delayed diagnosis.
“The current safety and quality health informatics systems used at Caboolture Hospital (and many other hospitals) are ‘clunky’ and lack the maturity of financial reporting systems used for the purposes of corporate governance,” the review found.
The reporting and collating of patient feedback was also found to be lacking,with its monitoring and use by the surgery and intensive care team to improve care deemed “unsatisfactory”.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday afternoon,Mr McGowan said he would be held accountable for the rollout of recommendations,including clinical and communication training for staff,along with better reporting methods of both safety issues and patient complaints.
Responding to questions about the culture at the hospital,he said there had been recent management structure changes and resignations.
“You can come back here in eight months’ time and check to see that that’s happened because I am determined,” he said of the health service’s plan to respond.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath flagged the review’s imminent publication two hours ahead of time at a press conference,where she deferred questions on the detail to Mr McGowan but said there would be lessons to be considered “by all the hospital and health services”.
LNP Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said he and his colleagues,who heldtown hall meetings for people with complaints about the hospital,would go through the report before addressing the media on Thursday and calling for Ms D’Ath to do the same.
“It’s either a rogue surgeon or a broken system … one way or another,someone has got to be held accountable,” he said.
An independent review into complaints from women about complications after caesareans at the Mackay Base Hospital was ordered by that health service last month.
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