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My concern over the lack of staffing at the Physio Departmen...

Posted By Righthandwoman

"My concern over the lack of staffing at the Physio Department of Box Hill Hospital."

About: Box Hill Hospital / Physiotherapy

(as the patient),

I have recently had a right shoulder operation. It wasn't at Box Hill Hospital, but due to circumstances I ended up in the Ortho ward at Box Hill and was very well attended too. I was given great care. Now that I am in the Physio Department at Box Hill I have great concerns at their level of staffing. Only one full time physio is on staff at the present time and he is taking, a probably well-earned six week holiday, but that leaves the staff to zero. When I last visited this week, the receptionist was desperately trying to locate and employ a local Physio. The present, other locum physio is moving on and so there is no guarantee of a physio for the future. Surely staffing at such an important department is paramount. Having had such good care from Box Hill Hospital I do worry about the continuance of this - now especially within the Physio department.

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Responses

Response from Jo Gatehouse, Director, Quality, Planning and Innovation (Acute Health and Consumer Participation and Patient Experience), Eastern Health 10 years ago
Jo Gatehouse
Director, Quality, Planning and Innovation (Acute Health and Consumer Participation and Patient Experience),
Eastern Health

Submitted on 27/01/2016 at 9:51 AM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 12:34 PM

picture of Jo Gatehouse

Dear Righthandwoman,

Thank you for taking the time to share your story on Patient Opinion. I was very pleased to hear that you received such good care from Box Hill Hospital staff.

I appreciate you sharing your concerns regarding the levels of physiotherapy staff and I will now contact the Manager of Physiotherapy at Eastern Health to provide this feedback and find out what arrangements are being made. We aim to be able to continue providing you with the good care that you have experienced and I hope to be able to publish an update to this response once I have heard back from the Manager of Physiotherapy.


Kind regards,

Jo Gatehouse, Director, Quality, Planning and Innovation (Acute Health and Consumer Participation and Patient Experience)
  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Righthandwoman (the patient)

Hello Jo,

I would appreciate a follow up on this issue. As I am sure every other patient of the Physio Department would as well. I just need to say such a pressure doesn't need to happen. And shouldn't. Staffing is a forward planning issue, surely. Anyhow, look forward to hearing back.

Response from Jo Gatehouse, Director, Quality, Planning and Innovation (Acute Health and Consumer Participation and Patient Experience), Eastern Health 10 years ago
Jo Gatehouse
Director, Quality, Planning and Innovation (Acute Health and Consumer Participation and Patient Experience),
Eastern Health

Submitted on 4/02/2016 at 12:10 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 2:13 PM

picture of Jo Gatehouse

Dear Righthandwoman,

The physiotherapy department have asked me to thank you for your feedback in relation to this issue.

The senior physiotherapist who works within the Box Hill Hospital outpatients department is currently on Long Service Leave for one week and four weeks of annual leave. The week of long service leave has been replaced by a physiotherapist from our casual bank working alongside another part time physiotherapist for the remaining period. With planned leave other than Long Service Leave, we do try and structure our rosters to best provide cover but service provision is reduced with regard to session availability. Public holidays over this period also unfortunately reduce the number of appointment times available.

Be assured, over these periods, all referrals are reviewed to determine priority and during periods of leave, referrals can be sent to other Eastern Health physiotherapy outpatient sites if urgent and appropriate for the service.

We have recently appointed a senior clinician for our outpatient services across Eastern Health physiotherapy encompassing the sites of Angliss Hospital, Box Hill Hospital and Maroondah Hospital with the intent to review practices and improve service to provide the right service at the right time and in the right place which will hopefully minimise frustrations for patients.

I do hope that you are recovering well from your shoulder operation and thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback.

Regards,

Jo Gatehouse, Director, Quality, Planning and Innovation (Acute Health and Consumer Participation and Patient Experience)

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Righthandwoman (the patient)

Dear Joy,

Thanks for the follow up, once again. It sounds like the department is staffed now, so what can I say, but good. The appointment of a senior clinician for the three hospitals seems like it's a fine idea. We all just want the public health system to work better. I can imagine sometimes that is a difficult juggling act.

All the best,

Righthandwoman

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