GP fights bureaucracy to get emergency help

A Queensland rural doctor, voted Australia's best GP for this year, was refused an emergency helicopter for a patient who suffered a heart attack. Dr Rachel Yarvey of Glenden, a mining town 180km west of Mackay, was 'told to ring around hospitals herself to find a bed for her patient on December 4 before the helicopter would be dispatched.

"It's just outrageous, an absolute disgrace ... that's not the doctor's job ... it could have been the difference between life and death," said Dr Harvey, 39. She said she spent about 35 minutes arguing on the telephone with Queensland Health and Queensland Ambulance Service. She then called a senior Queensland Health officer at Townsville Hospital and was again given the run-around but eventually got the helicopter and her cardiac patient was transferred to Mackay hospital and her life saved.

"It was all about politics - not patient care," she said. Dr Harvey said the first priority should be getting the patient to hospital before asking questions.

The article above is by Darrell Giles and appeared in the Brisbane "Sunday Mail" on December 16, 2007





"Haphazard" treatment at public hospital leads to toddler's death

SYSTEMIC failures in the treatment of Ryan Saunders at the Rockhampton Base Hospital were likely to have contributed to the toddler's tragic death. The Courier-Mail has learnt an internal investigation by Queensland Health heavily criticised the hospital's haphazard approach to the two-year-old's care. It found necessary blood tests were not undertaken and Ryan should have been in intensive care but was sent to a ward because the unit lacked pediatric staff.

Ryan died after a harrowing and painful ordeal in Rockhampton when a Group A streptococcal infection went undetected and he developed toxic shock syndrome. The circumstances of Ryan's death, first revealed in The Courier-Mail last month, have outraged the community in his hometown of Emerald and horrified people throughout the state.

The findings, which were not released at the request of Ryan's family, have prompted a significant overhaul of procedures in every Queensland public hospital. The case also has been referred to the Health Quality and Complaints Commission for further investigation.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson met with Ryan's father Terry in Rockhampton yesterday to express his sympathies. "Terry Saunders is just one of the most decent people I have met in my life and for this to happen to his family, your heart goes out to them," Mr Robertson said. Mr Robertson said he felt an obligation on behalf of the family to prevent a repeat of the tragic circumstances. The Saunders family declined to comment.

Ryan, who would have celebrated his third birthday earlier this month, was originally thought to have died on September 26 from a twisted bowel. He was sent from Emerald Hospital to Rockhampton for an ultrasound but instead spent the night in severe pain in a ward bed. His infection was not discovered until 24 hours after Ryan arrived at Rockhampton but it was too late.

There have been 32 cases of Group A streptococcal infections in children aged under five years in Queensland over the past two years but it is unknown how many of these developed toxic shock. The team investigating the tragedy recommended more extensive blood tests for all children in Queensland hospitals and a review of Rockhampton's intensive care unit roster. It also called for the introduction of new observation rules for children and toxic shock education for pediatric staff at all hospitals.

Source






Leftist broadcasters vent their predictable hatred of drug companies -- to dangerous effect

DOCTORS have condemned ABC television's The 7.30 Report over a story about bone drugs, which they claim was alarmist and inaccurate. According to professional group the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, the story, broadcast last Wednesday, may cause worried cancer and osteoporosis patients to stop treatment. "We want to set the record straight," said the society's president, Philip Sambrook, a rheumatologist with the University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital.

The contentious story - presented by Nick Grimm - stated that so-called bisphosphonate drugs can cause the jaw bone to dissolve, a disfiguring condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw, or ONJ.

But the society said the claims were misleading, and warned that if cancer patients stayed off bisphosophonate medications such as Zometa and Aredia for prolonged periods, their disease could more easily spread. Further, if people with osteoporosis stopped drugs such as Aldomet and Fosamax, they could suffer serious fractures of the spine and hip. "Patients have been contacting practitioners and I've had emails from people around the country I haven't seen," Professor Sambrook said. "They were scared, having heard thereport."

He said the story incorrectly implied that all patients were at risk and that they were not warned by doctors or advised of simple alternatives such as calcium supplements. "Not uncommonly in cancer sufferers, but in rare cases with osteoporosis, bisphosphonates can interfere with the normal bone healing of the jaw, resulting in ONJ, or death of the bone," Professor Sambrook said. "However, the risk of this rare side effect can be significantly reduced by good dental care."

He added that calcium and vitamin D supplements might be sufficient to treat mild cases of osteoporosis, but they were ineffective against severe osteoporosis. Professor Sambrook was also critical of the claim that "bisphosphonates are a booming business for drug companies", which downplay side effects and exaggerate benefits. And he said it was factually incorrect to claim, as the report did, that the drugs had been listed on the Public Benefits Scheme only last December. "They were listed 10 years ago," Professor Sambrook said.

In a letter seen by The Australian, Professor Sambrook wrote to The 7.30 Report's executive producer, Ben Hawke, outlining these and other problems. In response, the full interview with Professor Sambrook has been posted on the program's website, along with others used in the story. However, he has not had a formal reply from Hawke. The Australian was unable to obtain comment from Hawke or ABC staff.

Source




Child abuse checks ignored in South Australia

THE State Government failed to investigate thousands of reports of child abuse within set timeframes last financial year. Figures obtained under Freedom of Information laws by The Advertiser show many of the most serious allegations of child abuse were not investigated in a timely manner. In 2006/07, 37 cases in which the child was deemed to be in immediate danger were not investigated within the department's required 24-hour period. More than 4600 cases, or almost half, where children were considered at some risk of harm were not investigated within one week. A further 7969 cases were not investigated at all.

In those cases a "different kind of response" such as a referral to another agency was undertaken. The figures were released as a commission set up to investigate child protection measures in NSW began its first public hearings yesterday. The commission was established after a spate of shocking child deaths plagued the NSW Department of Community Services and a report showing 114 children who died in 2006 were known to authorities.

The SA State Government was condemned yesterday by child abuse and victims advocates and state MPs. The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect state president Richard Bruggemann said it was unacceptable child abuse reports were not being investigated in a timely manner. "For them not to be seen in the time that is suggested I think is very poor," he said.

Opposition Families and Communities spokeswoman Vickie Chapman said more funding needed to be provided to investigate abuse allegations. "A failure to even respond means they are not even doing the reactive let alone the proactive," she said. "The most tragic consequence is what you get - 119 children dead last year and 30 of them were known to the department."

Victims of Crime Commissioner Michael O'Connell said early intervention was the best approach but was concerned many child abuse claims were not being investigated promptly. Family First MLC Dennis Hood accused the Government of failing to protect children. Families and Communities Minister Jay Weatherill said only 10 per cent of reports could be substantiated and resources were being directed towards early intervention.

Source




Australia exports cars to the USA

It's not quite coals to Newcastle but ....



THIS car - a Pontiac G8 - represents the future of the GM Holden plant at Elizabeth and its 3400 workers. It's one of the first Pontiacs off the production line and is ready to be shipped to the U.S. today. The Pontiac G8 is based on the Elizabeth-built VE Holden Commodore but has been re-engineered, especially in the front end with its traditional Pontiac twin-nostril grille and bonnet scoops. "It's an awesome looking car," said 20-year Holden worker Bruce Mahlknecht of Wynn Vale, who gave the car its final check yesterday.

GM Holden has declared that its future as a manufacturer relies heavily on exports. That has become even more important with the decline in large-car sales on the Australian domestic market. This year it is sending about 31,000 cars to the Middle East, carrying the Chevrolet badge, as left-hand-drive versions of the Commodore and the long wheelbase Statesman-Caprice. It is expected about 30,000 Pontiac sedans each year will go to the U.S.

GM Holden has said that by next year half its production will be for export. With Pontiac now coming down the line, the Elizabeth manufacturing facility has reached maximum capacity of 620 cars a day, using two Monday to Friday shifts. The first shipments will be officially farewelled at the plant today by federal Trade Minister Simon Crean, SA Deputy Premier Kevin Foley and GM Holden chairman and managing director Chris Gubbey.

Source