We may joke about the recklessness of Canberra drivers, but reality makes it a wry joke. Braidwood Hospital is first stop for highway accident emergencies. So it is cause for great concern that over the October long weekend, there apparently was no doctor on call there.
There certainly was an accident: air-lifted by helicopter after almost an hour’s fight by the ‘chopper paramedic to stabilise the casualty (living by the recreation ground as I do, I’m only too aware of delays between landing and takeoff).
Why was there no doctor? How can staff be expected to cope in emergencies without being able to call a doctor in; or keep up their morale in the face of crisis without such support?
This is a most serious issue that should be taken up and rectified immediately by the Hospital Consultative Committee. And if this is the first step towards ‘downsizing’ our hospital, then Southern Area Health had better look out!
