Othopaedic dept investigation

Press, 13 May 1987, Page 29

Othopaedic dept investigation

PA Hamilton A Christchurch specialist will investigate Whakatane Hospital’s orthopaedic services after a young accident victim died after alleged inadequate medical treatment. It has also been alleged that there were complications in other accident cases.

Professor William Gillespie, head of' orthopaedics at the Christchurch Clinical School, has been called in by the Bay of Plenty Hospital Board which met on Wednesday to discuss the matter.

The death is also being investigated by the police.

A solicitor, Mr David Duggan, acting on behalf of the Whakatane family who claim their son, aged 19, died as a result of medical misadventure by the orthopaedic department, has welcomed news of the inquiry.

But he said Whakatane Hospital’s orthopaedic services should be suspended until the inquiry’s findings were revealed. “I have a list of between 40 and 50 people who have had bad experiences with the service,” he said.

The “Dominion” newspaper reported that the special meeting of the Hospital Board decided to hold a “full and independ-

ent investigation into the functions and procedures” of its hospital’s orthopaedic services. The allegation by the Cox family that their son Wayne, who died in March in Whakatane Hospital, died because of medical misadventure was first made on a television news programme on April 24. Wayne Cox was admitted to hospital on February 3 after being injured in a motor accident. His father said he was told by hospital staff not to worry but, by March, Wayne’s broken leg had developed gangrene and on March 7 he died.

Two other men who have recently been treated by Whakatane’s orthopaedic services have also spoken publicly about what they allege was poor treatment.

Franz Roozendaal, aged 36, went to hospital with a broken wrist and Cliff Harper, aged 18, with a broken leg. Both have now said their treatment by the service was poor and both are seeking legal advice from Mr Duggan. Whakatane Hospital’s medical superintendent-in-chief, Dr Keith Ridings, said the board was concerned about the situation, but while formal investigations were pending

he would not comment on any specific cases.

But in his 13 months at the hospital he had received only two complaints, and neither were from the Cox family, he said.

A proper complaints procedure existed and that did not include “trial by media.” Dr Ridings conceded that the publicity had affected the community’s confidence in the hospital, some television reports claiming people were too scared to go there. “I hope (the board’s investigation) will restore some of that confidence,” he said.