chris955

I would be interested to hear of hospitals where hundreds of people have died through a lack of care. Having lived in Australia most of my life I havent seen anything here I didnt see there. Lets be honest many (most) people going to live in another country will want to see the more positive side of that country and even if it is subconsciously they will tune out to the negatives, it is human nature.

Grayling

Some evidence would help.

Obviously never heard of Bundaberg

Pit Bull.

It was massive news here a couple of years ago, it's on the Internet, it's not hard to find, it was a massive scandal, it's not negative it's a fact that's all.

Grayling

How about a reference then

No scandals in Australia

Pit Bull.

Background

The scandal came to light because of an investigation by the Healthcare Commission into the operation of Stafford Hospital in Stafford, England. The commission was first alerted by the "apparently high mortality rates in patients admitted as emergencies".[1] When the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, which is responsible for running the hospital, failed to provide what the commission considered an adequate explanation, a full-scale investigation was carried out between March and October 2008.[1] Released in March 2009, the commission's report severely criticized the Foundation Trust's management and detailed the appalling conditions and inadequacies at the hospital. Many press reports suggested that because of the substandard care between 400 and 1200 more patients died between 2005 and 2008 than would be expected for the type of hospital,[2][3] though in fact such ‘excess’ death statistics did not appear in the final Healthcare Commission report.[4]
As a result, the trust's chief executive, Martin Yeates, was suspended (with full pay), while its chairman, Toni Brisby, resigned.[3] Both Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Health Secretary Alan Johnson apologized to those who suffered at the hospital.[3][5] Also in response to the scandal, the mortality rates of all National Health Service hospitals have been made accessible on a website.[6]
In March 2009 it was revealed that executives who had run the NHS trust at the time actually received promotions within the health service. Most notably Cynthia Bower, who was from 2006 chief executive of the trust's parent body, NHS West Midlands, was recruited to run the Care Quality Commission quango.[7]
On 21 July 2009, the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Burnham, announced a further independent inquiry into care provided by Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust. The generally critical inquiry report was published on 24 February 2010. The report made 18 local and national recommendations, including that the regulator, Monitor, de-authorise the Foundation Trust.[8]
Compensation payments averaging £11,000 were paid to some of the families involved.[9]
In February 2010, Burnham agreed to a further independent inquiry of the commissioning, supervisory and regulatory bodies for Foundation Trusts.[8]

Pit Bull.

Lets compare links, show us one about Bundaberg.

chris955

Thank you, that really is awful. Not sure about 'between 400 and 1200' though.

Grayling

Here you are....this is the tip of the iceberg

http://www.news.com.au/national/form...-1226460188424

Pit Bull.

It's the medical investigatory experts quotes not mine.

Grayling

While we are at it try googling the Queensland health pay scandal

nun

Maybe this has something to do with the Hippocratic Oath. I think a doctor should treat everyone they see. Afterwards, it's admin's job to get the bills right or before there should be some residency test. But once in front of the doctor there should be no financial considerations.

This is correct. The problem is highlighted and exaggerated by newspapers and people with an agenda to reduce access to the NHS. You start with a minority group so the idea of paying for services or limiting access becomes acceptable. Combine that with removing money from the system so that NHS services go down hill and people will start to think the NHS isn't worth saving and pretty soon you'll have a US style system, that delivers fantastic care to some and leaves the rest uninsured and unable to afford care.

Pit Bull.

Surely your not comparing 3 or 4 deaths to up to 1200?

Has there been any huge scale scandals, they do have big hospitals in Oz don't they?

Grayling

That was not a huge scandal....much of it was a statistical anomaly.....no account of local factors......do you know how many deaths occur in a hospital over a year...never mind 4 or 5 years.

You really need to take off the rose tints if you are going to make it over here.

Grayling

This should cheer you up.



http://www.medicalerroraustralia.com/

dunroving

Just interested, do they test pre-op patients for MRSA in Oz? They have started doing that here, whch is a good move.