By Michelle Giglio
Patient numbers ‘still building’ as VMOs move lists elsewhere
Healthscope will cease to be the operator of Northern Beaches Hospital (NBH) on 29 April, with 346 of 410 existing specialists signed on to NSW Health.
Some 12 months after private operator Healthscope announced it had started discussions with the State Government to hand over the public part of the hospital 12 years earlier than planned, 29 April will mark the end of the public private partnership (PPP). The government banned all future PPPs in NSW hospitals last year.
There will be more than 1,900 clinical and support staff at the hospital, with visiting medical officers (VMOs) issued contracts in March. While the majority of VMOs have signed up to NSW Health, it is believed some prioritise work in other hospitals, with private patient numbers at NBH not as strong as in previous years.
NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce said: “While this period has undoubtedly been challenging for those working at NBH, they have continued to make sure providing safe, high-quality care for their patients and community is the top priority.”
Under the new regime, private patients will continue to be booked by their surgeon in the public hospital, but it is unclear what model the government will settle on to manage the VMO work.
David Dickinson, who has been an orthopaedic surgeon at NBH since its inception, said he gave ‘credit’ to Health Minister Ryan Park and Anthony Schembri, CEO of the Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD).
“They’ve listened to us say how good the hospital is, looked at the data and said, ‘You guys are right. Let’s make this place work. Let’s continue with the private work because that’s what’s really needed here.’
“And then they had to go to the Federal Government and get accreditation so they can run a private hospital on site, even though it’s a public hospital.
“So they’ve achieved a lot, they’re really inventing a very new terrain. It’s been a commendable effort.”
Dr Dickinson said that some surgeons had moved private lists as they were worried they would not have access to technology like the famed da Vinci robot, bought initially for use in private practice by Healthscope in 2021. “We’re trying to encourage a few to come back, but only time will tell.”
A NSLHD spokesperson told PL that more VMOs were expected to sign contracts with NSW Health in the lead up to the transition date.
The handover comes as nurses and midwives received a payrise, and an agreement was reached with NBH nurses over accrued leave. Independent Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps had become aware that around 1,500 nurses and midwives faced the prospect of being taxed twice when they signed from Healthscope to NSW Health due to unused accrued annual leave. Dr Scamps said a substantial proportion of this leave accumulated because staff were unable to take leave due to persistent understaffing and workload pressures.
The federal and state governments have agreed with Healthscope that nurses and midwives can choose how they receive their unused annual leave.
“This outcome is a major win for local nurses and midwives who were facing an unfair financial penalty through no fault of their own,” Dr Scamps said.