Murrumbidgee Local Health District administration in crisis as hospital staff staff condemn them in public letter

That’s the damning message in an extraordinary letter to Murrumbidgee Local Health District administration from Griffith base hospital’s medical staff council.

The letter paints a picture of an arrogant and dictatorial administration who have plunged the city’s hospital into a “dire situation” through incompetence, neglect and failure to consult and heed warnings.   

The letter asked if the powers that be would finally be made accountable for the gradual dismantling of what was once regional NSW’s premier hospital.

However, The Area News put 11 questions on the issues raised in the letter to embattled MLHD chief executive Jill Ludford, and she refused to answer them. 

The letter highlights how MLHD’s administration have savaged three key aspects of the hospital:

Radiology services

MLHD administration replaced the high quality radiology service of Regional Imagining with an inferior service. They ignored the “grave concerns” of the hospital staff, and refused to respond to emails. They promised the service would be of same or better quality, but it’s turned out to be “disastrous for the hospital and has set us back several years”. 

Closure of sterilising supply department

Without consulting or even informing staff, management decided to close down the hospital’s sterilising supply department.

Hospital management struck a deal to have the supplies located at St Vincent’s private hospital. This bizarre decision was made despite the fact most major surgery is done at the base hospital. 

Pathology department

The decision to relocate the hospital’s histopathology service to Wagga was again made without consultation or reference to common sense. 

Losing an on-site pathologist was described as “the death knell of surgical oncology” in Griffith. 

The letter summed up the situation by saying “in the 21^st century it is unthinkable that a hospital with the responsibility to provide medical services of a population base of over 80,000 people should be moving backwards rather than forwards”. 

Dr Narayanan Jayachandran (Jaya), who signed the letter on behalf of the medicial staff council, was asked if he was concerned by being sanctioned for breaking NSW Health's media gag. His response was “bring it on”.  

“There’s only so long you can remain silent. This is my home, and it affects my whole community… we need every family and their dog to stand up and protest.”

“This can’t just last two weeks, or management will go back to doing what they have been doing when the fuss dies down. We need to keep the momentum.” 

The Area News questions to MLHD Chief executive Jill Ludford:

1. Why did MLHD ignore the "grave concerns" and refuse to answer emails regarding the discontinuing of Regional Imaging and adoption of another radiology service?

2. Does MLHD concede their change to radiology services has been "disastrous" for the hospital, as stated by Griffith hospital medical staff?

3. Why was the decision to change radiology services made? 

4. Does  Ms Jill Ludford recall telling medical staff the close down of the hospital's central sterilising supply department would be "good"?

5. Does she agree it has been good, in hindsight? 

6. What is the cost saving of sending base hospital instruments to the private hospital for sterilizing? 

7. What role did MLHD play in the decision to have in closing down the hospital's histopathology services?

8. Does MLHD concede that they do not consult hospital staff before making major changes to the hospital? 

9. Does MLHD pledge to consult hospital staff in the future?

10. Does Ms Jill Ludford concede she has lost the confidence of hospital staff, council and the community? 

11. What is she doing to repair relationships with hospital staff? 

Jill Ludford’s response: 

Murrumbidgee Local Health District acknowledges the concerns raised by the Griffith Base Hospital Medical Staff Council. We are working with the doctors to resolve the issues.