Portland hospital, in regional Victoria, is yet to find a replacement for an ophthalmologist who resigned in frustration after trying to expand the service. Now patients are driving long distances for eyecare, placing pressure on services in neighbouring towns.
Dr Robert Harvey, 69, an ophthalmologist nearing retirement, worked his last day in his salaried position at Portland District Health (PDH) on 31 March. He resigned after the hospital turned down his request for a contractual change that would have seen him become a visiting medical officer (VMO), allowing him to seek and train a successor.
Aware of the difficulties in finding ophthalmologists to work in regional areas, he was concerned about thousands of patients that attended regular clinics for chronic eye conditions at PDH, and more than 150 people on his surgical wait list.
Two months since he left, PDH confirmed to Insight on 5 July it had not found a replacement, despite initially hoping the disruption would only last for the month of April.
Harvey has continued working in Mt Gambier, South Australia, where around 75% of his Portland patients are now seeking care, travelling over 100km. Others are attending clinics in Warrnambool, 98 km away.
“My colleague in Mt Gambier has now written to his local MP to say that cross border ophthalmology services in South Australia are struggling because so many patients are coming from Portland,” Harvey said.
“Some Portland cases are urgent and semi-blind. One person recently gave herself an insulin overdose because she couldn’t see the syringe clearly. We’re having to give these people priority and hence Mt Gambier patients are now finding their waiting times are increasing.”
Harvey said Portland patients wanting to see him in Mt Gambier are also required to obtain a new referral from a GP, adding to their burden. He also said some patients weren’t aware that ophthalmology services were unavailable at PDH until they rang to arrange an appointment.
Additionally, Harvey is yet to see a woman who requires monthly injections for macular disease. Because she can only travel short distances before becoming motion sick, he is concerned she is not receiving the sight-saving care she requires.
He said the 150 people on his Portland surgical wait list face uncertainty about the timing of their surgery and likely increased wait times. Some have been waiting for more than a year – and they don’t know what’s happening.
“Management have advertised for a locum but not had any interest,” Harvey added.
“At the moment we’ve got an expensive operating microscope, OCT and phaco machine, all lying idle in an operating room, and nursing staff who are keen and ready.”
Harvey and other doctors at PDH have previously expressed concerns about the erosion of specialist services in Portland with other medical specialties affected in a similar way.
However, PDH has denied the hospital is being closed, downgraded or amalgamated.
In a statement last month, PDH said it was continuing to search for a replacement ophthalmologist to resume the service.
“Our staff are working hard to ensure any delays to service are minimal and that we provide continuity of care for patients,” the hospital stated.
“We know how important high-quality ophthalmology services are for our community and will ensure all community members continue to receive the care they need. We hope to have an update on returning ophthalmology services to Portland in the coming weeks.
“We ask everyone in our community to continue to be courteous in their interactions with our staff.”
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