What's wrong with our hospitals?

Abstract

EVENTS occurring from 1999 to 2003 at Campbelltown and Camden hospitals within the South Western Sydney Area Health Service received extensive coverage in the media during the first half of 2004 and led to significant government intervention. It has been claimed that some 17 deaths could have been avoided. Other accusations of less than appropriate care by both nurses and doctors have also been made. A group of nurses complained about mismanagement and patient neglect, and alleged that management failed to address their concerns. Medical staff claimed serious under-funding of the two hospitals were reasons for these events. The media and political debate that erupted was highly emotive and further muddied and confused the issues. This article draws on these events to explore the issues of quality and risk management generally in Australian hospitals. Gaps in current approaches and attitudes particularly prevalent in NSW are analysed and suggestions made as to how these gaps should be eliminated.