Australian Anaesthesia Allied Health Practitioners

ASAPO PO Box 656, Lavington, NSW, 2641

www.aaahp.org.au
ABN 88 297 528 718
Ph. (02) 6108 3616

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27th January 2017

PRESS RELEASE IN RESPONSE TO AN ARTICLE IN THE BENDIGO

ADVERTISER ON 26TH JAN 2017 CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION OF
NEONATAL SURGERY AT BENDIGO HOSPITAL

The AAAHP Executive Committee has issued the following press release today in response to
the Bendigo Advertiser article published on 26th January 2017 concerning the suspension of
neonatal surgery at Bendigo Hospital.

Until today AAAHP has refrained from commenting on the recent change from the
anaesthetic technician as the anaesthetic assistant to the anaesthetic nurse model at Bendigo
hospital. This was due to the fact that the Bendigo anaesthetic technicians chose not to be
members of AAAHP. However with the report in yesterdays Bendigo Advertiser
highlighting the implications of inadequately trained anaesthetic nurses AAAHP feels it is
now an appropriate time to voice its considered opinion upon this matter.

AAAHP:-

Strongly believes that the ANZCA guidelines for the training of anaesthesia assistants
are in place for a good reason that of patient safety. Any attempt to play down their
importance is a disregard of this hugely important factor.

Wishes to make clear that all our members must satisfy these ANZCA guidelines
before they are placed on the AAAHP voluntary register.

Notes with dismay the surreptitious erosion of anaesthetic technician posts in

Victorian public hospitals, instigated by nursing hierarchy; over a period of the last 20
years.

Highlights that the lack of such positions and the reluctance of hospitals to employ
anaesthetic technicians has led to training courses for anaesthetic technicians in
Victoria not being viable; as few if any hospitals have been willing to take anaesthetic
technician diploma students on placement. When the students do qualify they find it
almost impossible to find work in Victoria and move interstate or are forced to retrain
in another discipline.

Believes that the Model of Care the Victorian Health Minister praises so highly has
been compromised by the way it is has been implemented not only at Bendigo but also
other Victorian public hospitals.

AAAHP Letterhead 7/2015

 Suggests that the Minister commissions an independent audit of compliance to
ANZCA guidelines for anaesthesia assistants (PS08) by anaesthesia nurses in public
and private hospitals in Victoria to ascertain how Victorian public hospitals measure
up to these national safety guidelines.

Is concerned of the consequences for the public should a similar Model of Care be
planned for other Victorian public hospitals employing non-nursing anaesthetic
assistants, namely the Royal Children's Hospital.

AAAHP would welcome the opportunity to take part in any working group or forum
considering this specific issue with the objective of improved patient safety outcomes.

Executive Committee
AAAHP

AAAHP Letterhead 7/2015