Two die on heart list

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 3

Two die on heart list

PA Dunedin At least two persons had died while on the waiting list for heart surgery at Dunedin Hospital during the last year, said the hospital’s medical superintendent - in - chief, Dr Keith Berendsen, yesterday. An average of six or seven heart operations a week were now being performed, well up from the one or two a week during the most desperate staff shortages in January and February, he said. The waiting list was now 124. Dr Berendsen said the average for the last year was five a week. This was half the level recommended for the unit. He blamed finance and staffing, in particular anaesthetists, intensivecare nurses, and general ward shortages. Some patients who had

become sicker had been moved up the waiting list. Others had dropped off after further heart problems made operating risks too high. The Cardiac Review Committee set up by the Minister of Health was due in Dunedin later this week. “We will present a case for why we are not doing 10 a week,” Dr Berendsen said. “We hope the time will come when we can.” The hospital now had three heart surgeons. Bypass operations were the most common. There were also a few valve operations and a few on babies with congenital heart problems. Dr Berendsen said other New Zealand units were in similar situations. Of the Dunedin caseload, 67 per cent was from outside Otago, and most of that from Canterbury.