Surgery cancellations at RCH

It was reported in The Age newspaper on Monday 14th April, as well as on radio and television that day, an escalating problem with the cancellations of surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH). We have found that normally there are about 7 surgeries cancelled each week (about 340-360 pa). However this year it is running at 16 cancellations per week (about 190), and for the first two weeks of April it was already at 30 cancellations.

The 30 surgeries that have been cancelled are due to shortage of open ICU beds. The RCH claim that this is due to a shortage of trained nurses. This statement was supported by the Premier on the day.

HeartKids knows that cancellation of surgery causes distress to children and families, and the huge difficulty in re-scheduling your life to work around rescheduled operations (especially for country families and the increasing number of interstate families that come to the RCH). HeartKids also has concerns about the medical impact of these cancellations.

As a result of this level of surgery cancellations, HeartKids has written to the State Government Ministers, State Opposition, Department of Human Services and the RCH.

HeartKids will be working on this matter actively. We believe this is an important matter for meeting today’s requirements, but also is a serious issue in relation to the new RCH.

We encourage Heartkids families to prepare themselves for the fact that they may be facing surgery cancellations, and possibly many times. If you find yourself in this position, please don’t hesitate to contact us for any assistance or advice we may be able to provide. Additionally, we recommend that members that do find themselves in this position write to their local State Member as well as the following Ministers:

Hon John Brumby, Premier, Level 1, 1 Treasury Place, East Melbourne VIC 3002

Hon Daniel Andrews, Minister for Health, Level 22, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Maxine Morand, Minister for Children & Early Childhood Development, Level 1, 2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne VIC 3002

Mr Ted Baillieu, Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Parliament House, Spring Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002

Helen Shardey, Shadow Health Minister, Suite 1/193 Balaclava Road, Caulfield North VIC 3161

Wendy Lovell, Shadow Minister Children & Early Childhood Development, 138 Welsford Street, Shepparton VIC 3630

If you would like to add your support to this issue, we encourage you to write to these Ministers.