By Stephen Linnell
THREE top surgeons have quit Werribee Mercy Hospital in recent weeks, further straining Wyndham’s already-stretched health services.
The surgeons, who perform elective surgery on a part-time basis, have all resigned.
The hospital is also yet to appoint a new clinical director of obstetric services, three months after advertising the position.
A spokesman for the hospital confirmed the departures, but said the impact on services would be “minimal”.
The hospital would not reveal the reasons behind the surgeons’ departure.
“It is correct that three surgeons have chosen not to continue their services at Werribee Mercy Hospital,” a hospital spokesman told Star.
“The reasons for each departure are varied.
“All of Mercy Health’s medical staff are valued members of the health care team, and we are always saddened by such departures.
“The level of services and type of surgery provided by Werribee Mercy Hospital are varied.”
The spokesman said the departing surgeons also worked at other hospitals and had provided Werribee Mercy with between one session per week or one session per month “depending on the individual surgeon”.
“We are in the process of appointing new surgeons and we believe this will result in additional surgical sessions being offered to the community of Wyndham,” he said.
Werribee’s Mercy Hospital is one of the busiest in the western suburbs.
Three years ago, a total of 1750 children were born at the hospital. This had increased to 1915 last financial year.
Wyndham’s burgeoning growth rate is expected to add further pressure on maternity services over the coming year, with Mercy predicting the number of births would rise to about 3000 within the next five years.
But the hospital also offers a range of other services including specialist surgery.
“We continue to look out for new surgeons to work at the hospital to ensure that we are able to respond to the growing needs of our community,” the spokesman said.
“This also ensures that the on-call work required to service a busy hospital like Werribee Mercy is evenly distributed and not too much of a burden on these dedicated health professionals.
“Due to the commitment and dedication of our medical staff the impact of the recent departures is minimal.”
Star reported in April that Werribee Mercy had launched a major review of its maternity services in order to better cope with Wyndham’s booming population.
The hospital plans to substantially increase birthing rooms and ante and post-natal care for pregnant women and new mothers.
In May, the hospital received a $14.2 million injection from the State budget.
The money will go toward the stage one redevelopment of the hospital, which will eventually include additional maternity beds, neonatal cots, operating theatres and recovery and day surgery beds.
The maternity area at Werribee Mercy has 24 integrated beds including birthing suites and antenatal/post natal beds. As well, the Special Care Nursery has 12 cots.
The funding will increase the unit to 32 maternity beds and 16 nursery cots.
More funding – including money to pay for additional staff – will be required to complete the redevelopment, which will have a total cost of about $31 million.
