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 Hospitals overhaul will benefit local residents 

Hospitals overhaul will benefit local residents

29 Dec, 2003 09:28 AM
Southern Highlands residents will benefit from planned overhauls to services at Camden and Campbelltown hospitals, according to Wingecarribee Community Health general manager Amanda Larkin.

Following revelations of mismanagement at Camden and Campbelltown hospitals, Ms Larkin said the South West Sydney Area Health Service (SWSAHS) will implement a number of changes to improve patient care at the hospitals.

Included in the overhaul are plans for more intensive care beds, emergency department reforms, plans to appoint more specialist clinicians and nurses and to establish renal and cardiac departments at Campbelltown hospital.

One of the biggest shake-ups proposed by SWSAHS are plans for ambulances with emergency patients to bypass Camden Hospital, with the health service to concentrate their efforts on developing Camden as a low acuity care facility.

There are also plans to establish a SWSAHS Professional Practice Unit, which will assess any concerns raised by staff members or the community about patient care.

SWSAHS will also review the operation of medical emergency teams (METS) within Campbelltown and Camden hospitals to ensure a speedier response to patients whose condition may deteriorate.

Campbelltown Hospital will benefit from a new cardiology department, which includes the establishment of an echocardiography service, and a renal department with a six-bed haemodialysis unit due to open in February next year.

Ms Larkin said Wingecarribee residents would benefit from the changes to Campbelltown and Camden hospitals.

"Wingecarribee residents will benefit from these changes as they will be able to take advantage of those new services," she said.

Ms Larkin said there were no major changes for Bowral hospital in the pipeline as a result of the SWSAHS overhaul, but said there were plans to appoint a new Director of the Emergency Department in the new year.

The NSW Health has set up a 24-hour toll-free Community Call Centre number for people who may have concerns about Camden and Campbelltown hospitals on 1800 656 743.

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