Private hospitals may draw surgeons

Press, 11 June 1987, Page 5

Private hospitals may draw surgeons

Cardiac surgery in the public sector might suffer if a private cardiac unit was established in Christchurch, the Canterbury Hospital Board’s health services committee was told yesterday. The board’s acting chief executive, Mr Bill Watson, said that both the Canterbury and Otago hospital boards should be concerned, as a private cardiac unit might attract some of the public sector surgeons. “It will be of concern to Otago and us if staff are absent for any length of time carrying out procedures in the private sector,” said Mr Watson.

The board’s medical superintendent - in - chief, Dr Ross Fairgray, said that reports of Southern Cross Hospital’s establishing a private cardiac by-

pass unit had been exaggerated. “When Southern Cross redeveloped its hospital three or four years ago it built one operating theatre that would be big enough to undertake neuro-surgery or cardiac surgery. Since then there have been rumours and counter-rumours about cardiac surgery.

“When I met the Southern Cross people, they said they had had preliminary discussions with a surgeon in the private sector who was contemplating coming to Christchurch to- do a limited amount of cardiac surgery.”

If such surgery was done, there would be implications for the board but these had not been discussed, he' said. Dr Faiigray has had

discussions with both Southern Cross and St George’s hospitals after a recommendation by the Minister of Health, Dr Bassett, that the board investigate the possibility of contracting some surgery to the private sector. Dr Faiigray and Mr Watson will meet Health Department officers in Wellington next week about the results of these discussions.

Dr Jocelyn Hay, a committee member, said yesterday that it would be "very sad” if only those with $lO,OOO were able to have survery. “What effect will this private unit have on board services, in particular the blood bank and anaesthetists? Will this tempt our staff to spend more time in the private sector?” she said.