CLAIMS that a lack of beds at Orange hospital saw patients transferred to Bathurst Health Service for treatment last weekend have been denied.
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The allegations were put forward by Bathurst councillor Warren Aubin at Wednesday's Bathurst Regional Council meeting.
Cr Aubin spoke on behalf of the Bathurst Health Services Action Group, which has labelled Bathurst's health services "disgusting".
According to Cr Aubin, he received information from a doctor who claimed patients were transported from Orange hospital to Bathurst Health Service's emergency department over the weekend as there were no beds in Orange.
The whole thing is just so ludicrous and these people that are running the joint, the bureaucrats, just finetune and polish everything up so it sounds like they are running like an oily cloth
- Bathurst councillor Warren Aubin
"The whole thing is just so ludicrous and these people that are running the joint, the bureaucrats, just finetune and polish everything up so it sounds like they are running like an oily cloth," Cr Aubin said.
"Well, it ain't. It's disgusting what is happening up there."
Bathurst Health Service's general manager Cathy Marshall has denied the transfers happened.
According to Ms Marshall "Orange Health Service did not transfer any Orange patients to the Bathurst Health Service" over the weekend of August 31 to September 1.
She added that, although normally avoided, occasionally patients will be transferred to other hospitals.
"All hospitals in the district provide support for each other when there are times of heavy activity," she said.
All hospitals in the district provide support for each other when there are times of heavy activity
- Bathurst Health Service's general manager Cathy Marshall
"In some cases, this will mean that a patient will be transferred to a neighbouring facility where they can be cared for appropriately in order for another patient to be provided with the care they need at the transferring hospital.
"Wherever possible, this is avoided, but it is an important strategy to ensure all patients can be provided with the appropriate level of care."
An open letter to member for Bathurst Paul Toole in July had named 13 areas at Bathurst Health Service in need of serious improvement.
One of the action group's top priorities is urology, with Cr Aubin saying that Bathurst hospital wasn't capable of providing prostate surgery.
Ms Marshall confirmed that the majority of prostate surgery required by patients from Bathurst is undertaken at Orange hospital.
"This networked service ensures the best possible care is provided to patients by consolidating high level expertise and experience," she said.
"Orange Central West Cancer Centre also provides specialised prostate services for the region.
"This includes access to transperineal prostate biopsy; specialist resident urologists; and the Centre's multidisciplinary team who are able to coordinate a patient's care."
