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Call for mediation of Bairnsdale health disputeThe Liberal Member for Eastern Victoria, Philip Davis, has called on the State Government in Parliament to intervene in a dispute over specialist medical services at Bairnsdale. By Kevin Balshaw - 14th April 2010 - Back to News The Liberal Member for Eastern Victoria, Philip Davis, has called on the State Government in Parliament to intervene in a dispute over specialist medical services at Bairnsdale.
Mr Davis met Bairnsdale Regional Health Service chief executive officer, Wayne Sullivan, to discuss the dispute, and said he had received expressions of concern from East Gippsland residents who use the visiting specialist services at the Bairnsdale Hospital.
In Parliament on April 13, he asked that Health Minister Daniel Andrews instruct the management of Gippsland region of the Department of Human Services to intervene to mediate a settlement of the dispute. The minister is required to respond formally to Parliament within 30 days.
Mr Davis said the refusal of specialists to negotiate on a health service proposal that it update their consulting suites at Bairnsdale and charge fees for use of the suites had resulted in a stand-off and regrettably considerable negative publicity surrounding health services at Bairnsdale.
"Where hospitals provide facilities for consulting services, it would appear reasonable for some fee to be charged. The provision of accommodation and additional services for consultants at the Bairnsdale health service is estimated to cost $280,000 next financial year, and the schedule of fees the service is seeking to negotiate would recover less than half this amount.
"Bairnsdale has not charged fees to date, although I understand most hospitals in a similar position in Victoria do in fact charge facility fees for consulting rooms," Mr Davis said.
"To my surprise, concerns have been raised very publicly in this case on matters that properly should be the basis for negotiation between the hospital and the doctors.
"The public threat that services may be withdrawn, however, presents a very real concern for the wellbeing of existing patients and the wider regional community. It is unfortunate patients have been alarmed in this way.
"The dispute has reached the point where the only way of achieving resolution is for the minister to instruct the department to convene constructive mediation."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: kevin.balshaw@parliament.vic.gov.au
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