The prognosis: return to theatre for now: [2 Edition 1]
Vanessa Walker, John Stapleton. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 02 May 2002: 6.
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Abstract
Dr [MICHAEL Besser], the head of neurosurgery at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital, said he would gladly return to work on private patients for the duration of the guarantee — but ultimately he wanted the Government to reform the industry.
Last night, he was waiting for the results of a hastily convened meeting of the NSW Neurosurgical Association to consider the Government’s letter before he re-booked his patient for surgery in his private Newtown practice. Neurosurgeons at that meeting voted unanimously to accept the Government’s written guarantee and to return to normal work practices within 24 hours.
Full Text
MICHAEL Besser saw the light at the end of the tunnel yesterday.
Just a day after the Sydney neurosurgeon telephoned a patient to cancel her brain surgery, and wearily said he expected the situation to continue indefinitely, a letter from the Government cemented his return to private surgery.
The letter, from federal assistant Treasurer Helen Coonan, was enough to assure neurosurgeons they are included in the doctors’ insurance guarantee nutted out by the federal Government and the Australian Medical Association on Tuesday night.
Dr Besser, the head of neurosurgery at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital, said he would gladly return to work on private patients for the duration of theguarantee — but ultimately he wanted the Government to reform the industry.
“We need a national tribunal to look at negligence claims, we need tort law reform and structured settlements,” he said.
“Until those problems are sorted out, this crisis will rear its head again next month or next year.”
Last night, he was waiting for the results of a hastily convened meeting of the NSW Neurosurgical Association to consider the Government’s letter before he re-booked his patient for surgery in his private Newtown practice. Neurosurgeons at that meeting voted unanimously to accept the Government’s written guarantee and to return to normal work practices within 24 hours.
They also accept the Government’s offer to be actively involved in reaching a resolution to the indemnity crisis.
Earlier in the day, the association — together with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons — advised their members not to perform surgery on non-urgent private patients because they could not be certain they were covered by the verbal agreement.
But soon after airing his grievances, the association’s president, Warwick Stening, received a letter saying the Government guaranteed all claims until June 30. “The membership last night understood that this problem is so complex we can’t hold out for a definitive solution. However, we accept that the Government is acting in good faith,” he said.
“It will be too late to get some people back for surgery that have already been cancelled, but after that everything is back to normal.”
Illustration
Caption: Reform call: Dr Besser, with a patient, awaiting word to return to the operating tablePicture: Bob Finlayson;