Surgical stall sparks alarm

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: April 14, 2009

Vernon’s doctors warn that a shortage of operating room time is placing patients at risk. In a letter written to Health Minister George Abbott, three senior physicians claim there is a problem with patient access to elective and emergency operations at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. “We are now no longer meeting the target wait times for cancer surgery across all specialities at our hospital,” writes Jason O’Brien, chief of surgery; Hamish Hwang, deputy chief of surgery; and David Kennedy, chief of anesthesia. “This is especially pronounced in urology where patients with cancer are waiting four times the recommended time for their surgery.” The three doctors claim there isn’t sufficient OR time to recruit a third urologist. “On the emergency end, our volumes continue to increase. A request for funding for a dedicated emergency OR was denied by IHA though this is in effect in Kelowna and Kamloops,” they write.“An average of five hours or emergency surgeries or more occur every day at our hospital. Every week, scheduled elective surgeries are cancelled because there are often too many emergency surgeries to perform.”

O’Brien, Hwang and Kennedy also say addressing emergency surgery would free up bed space. “It is only a matter of time before we have a death or serious complication because a patient waits too long for their emergency surgery as a result of not enough emergency OR time.” The three doctors want funding for five ORs as occurs in Penticton and Trail, and they don’t believe Vernon can wait until a new patient care tower opens in 2011. “We have the physical space to run five ORs,” they state. Abbott is aware of the doctors’ concerns. “VJH is a very busy hospital and that’s why we are investing $180 million in expanding and revitalizing VJH,” he told The Morning Star.

“I understand that the Interior Health Authority is looking at the issues raised in the letter and whether there are ways to address these concerns.” Abbott isn’t sure what the timeline is for possibly taking action. “IHA is looking at the issues and I am sure will come back with thoughtful recommendations. Standing still is not something we are doing.” Authority officials deny that operating room needs at the hospital are being ignored. “IH is launching an external review of practices at VJH. That is supposed to be completed by the fall,” said Karen Cairns, with the communications department. “The review is very broad and it will identify utilization rates. It was asked for by the medical staff.” IHA also states that it’s the responsibility of VJH’s operating room committee to look at the allocation of OR time and to make changes to meet the needs of patients.