Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 10:17:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [KCUTS] Nelson Hospital Faces Emergency Surgery Crisis
From: meadow@netidea.com
Media Release 10 July 2007
Nelson, BC
Hospital Faces Emergency Surgery Crisis
The Health Task Force is deeply troubled by the IHA's refusal to recruit a
resident surgeon to replace Dr. Ken Muth, who retired this month at Kootenay
Lake Hospital (KLH) in Nelson.
In July 2002, the IHA abruptly withdrew emergency surgery and full general
surgery at KLH, and closed the Intensive Care Unit without consultation.
Now, 4 years later, despite many documented incident reports where patients
and families reported harm from these changes, the IHA still refuses to take
any positive action.
Task Force reports documented multiple cases where Dr. Muth, though not on
call, responded to critical emergencies. Among these, at least three were
life and death situations - a patient with a ruptured spleen in shock and
hemorrhaging, and two separate ruptured ectopic pregnancy cases, both also
in shock with massive bleeding, where he assisted the obstetrician. With
his timely help, all three patients survived. There are a number of other
occasions- some where emergency transfer to Trail was refused, where Dr.
Muth came to the rescue.
In other incidents, the refusal to allow emergency surgery at KLH has caused
suffering and dangerous delays for acutely ill patients, who before 2002
would have received prompt surgical consultation and surgery at KLH. Two
examples - an appendicitis patient whose transfer to Trail was refused, was
rerouted by ambulance to Salmon Arm. His appendix ruptured on the way,
resulting in a prolonged and difficult convalescence. Also a fatal ruptured
spleen case, where the six hour delay involved in transfer to Trail was a
major contributing factor in his death. In contrast, timely surgery at KLH
in the previously mentioned ruptured spleen case saved a young woman's life.
Until the July 2002 cuts, Dr. Muth was one of three busy KLH general
surgeons providing full general surgery and 24/7 emergency surgical call
around the clock. Now, KLH has the area's busiest Emergency Department,
delivers the most babies, serves the largest population, and is experiencing
the highest growth rate in the West Kootenays. With Dr. Muth no longer
available to attend emergencies at Kootenay Lake Hospital, we believe the
risk to emergency and maternity patients is increased. Therefore, the
Health Task Force believes it is imperative to recruit a resident surgeon,
so life and death emergency surgery is again possible at KLH.
The Health Task Force wholeheartedly supports Nelson City Council's efforts
to protect the public it serves. Patient safety in our area urgently
requires that Dr. Muth, Nelson's 2007 Citizen of the Year, who gave so
selflessly to all of us over the years, be replaced immediately. Local 24/7
emergency surgical call and emergency surgery must be restored, and full
general surgery again be available at KLH.
Premier Campbell promised: "Timely Care, When and Where You Need It."
Logic demands that it happen here, and happen now.
-20-
Contact:
Dr. John Mackay
Chair
Nelson and Area Health Task Force
Phone/fax (250) 229-4610
E-mail: jamackay@shaw.ca
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