Qld launches health service investigation into Mackay HHS

Following concerns being raised about senior medical officer recruitment and credentialling, including clinical scope of practice and requirements for supervision at the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (Mackay HHS), Queensland Health Director-General Dr David Rosengren has commissioned a health service investigation into Mackay HHS, to examine concerns about the recruitment and credentialing for scope of practice of senior medical officers.

The investigation — under Part 9 of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 — will cover a two-year period (January 2023–December 2024) to determine if Mackay HHS complied with practices and processes relating to senior medical officer recruitment and selection, their credentialing and the scope of practice, and to investigate what improvements need to be made. It includes ensuring senior medical officers have been credentialled to practise within the bounds of their competence, education, experience, role and training.

“It is essential Queensland Health addresses these concerns thoroughly, which is why a Part 9 has been commissioned,” Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said. “I’m confident Queensland Health has rigorous senior medical officer recruitment and credentialling requirements, so I fully support this investigative work to ensure they are being met.

“While I understand the community may be concerned on hearing about this investigation, I am assured clinical reviews to date found no patient harm had occurred.”

As Rosengren explained, the investigation follows concerns raised by doctors in Mackay around uncertainty of clinical scope and requirements for supervision for non-specialist senior medical staff. “The investigation will examine the policies and procedures currently in use to ensure they are operating effectively,” Rosengren said. “If there are shortfalls, it is critical we identify these and implement opportunities to improve so Queensland Health continues to provide world-class health care.”

The investigation follows a clinical review Mackay HHS completed — examining the workload and scope of clinical practice of a senior medical officer — under Part 6 of the Hospital and Health Boards Act. “While the clinical review did not identify any specific adverse outcomes, it has identified risk associated with inadequate credentialling specificity around scope of clinical practice and supervision requirements for non-specialist senior medical officers,” Rosengren said.

“The investigation is the next step to examine processes across the entire HHS to determine if improvements can be made locally and, where relevant, across the state,” Rosengren added.

Mackay HHS has taken important steps following the Part 6 clinical review to strengthen practices and processes, according to Mackay HHS Chief Executive Susan Gannon. These include ensuring all senior surgical specialist staff and theatre managers understand the requirements for supervision of non-specialist senior medical officers, principal house officers and trainees.

“Mackay HHS has responded quickly to address concerns raised by staff and this is a demonstration of our development of a culture of safety,” Gannon said. “We will work collaboratively with investigators to further improve our processes and practices and I will continue to encourage staff to raise their concerns.”

The terms of reference for the health service investigation are available here, via the Queensland Health website.

Image credit: iStock.com/sturti