When a plan was announced to close the operating theatres at Bulli hospital the surgeons concerned protested - and the South Coast Labour Council slapped a ban on the movement of any theatre equipment from that hospital.
Basically, the closure went ahead anyway - and now only eye surgery remains. The other two medical disciplines have moved to Shellharbour hospital, and most people reluctantly concede that there is no prospect of a reversal.
The ban of removing equipment from Bulli to Shellharbour remains. It has served it's purpose of making a statement - and now all it is doing is inconveniencing patients, staff and surgeons.
An $ 80,000 surgical microscope remains unused, locked in Bulli hospital while surgeons make do with borrowed and inferior equipment at Shellharbour. In a recent case, a borrowed microscope failed - and this resulted in six patients having surgery postponed.
It seems to be an ego standoff between the Labour Council and the Area Health Service. Neither seems inclined to budge and the longer the ban remains the more money will be wasted and health standards compromised.
Now would be a good time for a rational compromise. The Labour Council has made it's point. The transfer of services has happened. The ban should be lifted and that equipment put to use to provide the citizens of this region with a higher standard of care than they are presently getting.
Continuing the ban is achieving - nothing !
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