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Waiting in Oncology

Posted By taurus60

"Waiting in Oncology"

About: Wonthaggi Hospital / Medical Specialists

(as the patient),

I attend Bass Coast Health Oncology in Wonthaggi every three weeks. We are given appointment times so it should work well. I believe there are times where an oncologist is late in arriving and creates a backlog for the entire day. I understand they are busy people and I'm not blaming them for this. For example, my appointment was for 1.30pm and I wasn't seen til about 3.45. So then the process starts with canula etc. Is there some way the process can at least start without the oncologist being present? maybe trainees or similar? It is just difficult for me if someone has driven me over for my appointment and they have to wait an extra 2 hours for what I believe should be approximately an hour and a half appointment. All the staff that attended to me are incredibly wonderful people and I can see their frustration as well.

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Responses

Response from Jan Child, CEO, Bass Coast Health nearly 2 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Jan Child
CEO,
Bass Coast Health

Submitted on 29/06/2022 at 7:19 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 11:04 AM

picture of Jan Child

Dear taurus60,

Thank you for your feedback and I apologise to you and your driver for the inconvenience caused by these wait times.

This is an issue we are aware of and actively reviewing; we are working through workflow between outpatients and inpatient chemotherapy, and looking at ways to manage the increasing demands for both outpatient and chemotherapy patients which are all pulling our extraordinary medical and nursing team in competing directions. We are blessed to have such senior, and high calibre medical staff attend Wonthaggi but the additional demand for service, in times of workforce constraints, means that some wait time is likely, particularly when the consultants are diverted to attending very unwell patients.

I can assure you we are actively working with the Alfred to facilitate a third consultant to work with our service and we have confidence that this extra pair of hands will help alleviate these waits.

You mentioned having some trainees and I am sad to say that the national workforce shortfalls mean that some of those options are also not readily available for BCH- we are actively recruiting for junior medical staff and experienced nursing staff (including nurse practitioners), but unfortunately, they are all very hard to come by - we will continue to recruit for extra staff but in the interim, I am pleased to say that our Alfred partnership will provide the additional consultant sessions in the not too distant future.

I would be happy to organise for one of our Operations Directors to meet with you when you next come in to chat further - if you would like to do this, please call me on 0472 846 355. Thank you for your patience and for your input into our service improvement.

Kind Regards,

Jan

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Update posted by taurus60 (the patient)

Dear Jan,

Thanks for your response. I definitely understand the issues that the entire medical workforce face and I am very grateful I can receive treatment in Wonthaggi, close to home. I do hope it all settles in time and staff get easier to find.

Kind regards,

Taurus60

Response from Jan Child, CEO, Bass Coast Health nearly 2 years ago
Jan Child
CEO,
Bass Coast Health

Submitted on 29/06/2022 at 4:45 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 5:02 PM

picture of Jan Child

Thank you for your understanding - it will be better soon I am sure!:)

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