NSW: Lack of staff among reasons for intensive care crisis

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-1999
NSW: Lack of staff among reasons for intensive care crisis

The New South Wales Health Department says a shortage of trained medical staff and a rise
in seriously ill patients admitted to hospital are to blame for a shortage of intensive care
beds.

NSW Health director-general MICHAEL REID says inappropriate transfers made by hospitals have
also added to the problem.

He says there hasn't been this level of demand on critical care services in recent years.

And he says that combined with a shortage of suitably qualified critical care nurses and
doctors means the system is under great pressure.

But he's confident a long-term strategy being implemented by the department will ease the
demand.

A committee will look at the issue of training more staff and in the short-term, staff with
appropriate training have been called on to increase their availability.





Acting Health Minister PAUL WHELAN says clinical decisions, not a lack of funding are the
cause for the bed shortage.

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported there are about 3.3 intensive care unit beds for
every 100,000 people in NSW.

AAP RTV ch/ls/tsm/wz

KEYWORD: BEDS (SYDNEY)

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