Pittwater Online News

Patients Forced To Travel Out Of Area After Mona Vale Hospital Downgraded 

The new Northern Beaches Hospital had a chaotic opening this week as protesters marked the closure of acute services at Mona Vale Hospital and patients faced problems accessing treatment at the new facility. 

Mona Vale Hospital’s Emergency Department and Manly Hospital shut their doors on Tuesday when the Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest opened. Patients were transferred there on Wednesday when other acute services at Mona Vale closed.

Since then residents have reported long waits, chaotic scenes, problems using private health insurance and exclusion from some treatments for public patients at the hospital since then. 

Avalon accountant John Whitehead, 60, says he discovered six weeks ago that he needed to have a mitral valve in his heart replaced and would require a pre-surgery angiogram as part of that procedure. 

Mr Whitehead said his cardiologist booked him in a week ago for the angiogram at NBH and he then completed an admission form online that included details about his NIB health insurance policy.

However, last Tuesday Mr Whitehead had received a letter from the hospital, dated October 27, saying the operator Healthscope did not yet have an agreement with NIB and so he could be out of pocket as a result.  

Without effective insurance coverage, Mr Whitehead rang the hospital the next day, electing to be admitted as a public patient for the procedure.  

On Friday hospital administration contacted him again to inform him the procedure was likely to cost him $4,945.00. 

"I was told that Healthscope isn't allowed to provide interventional cardiology services - including angiograms and stenting - all the things that require access via arteries for public patients,” Mr Whitehead told Pittwater Online News.   

"My cardiologist wasn't even aware of it and he's contracted to the hospital.” 

Mr Whitehead said he had then spoken by phone to a manager at the hospital who had said NSW Health would not pay the hospital for those operations and procedures on a public patient. 

"So in their words, the services provided for public patients in the hospital are a Level 3 and for private, Level 5,” he said. 

“It’s not a question you want to be asking when you get in an ambulance: do you have private health insurance?” 

Mr Whitehead said his cardiologist regarded his heart surgery as urgent but the debacle over his angiogram had probably added two weeks to his wait for the operation.

"I have serious mitral valve reflux that my cardiologist wants operated on as soon as possible because its' starting to impact on my heart muscle," he said. 

On one Facebook page, Lost Manly and the Northern Beaches, many residents posted angry reactions in support of a post from Mr Whitehead about his experiences. 

However, Mackellar MP Jason Falinski defended the hospital saying it was not private. 

“What is true is that this government wants the best outcomes for the people of the northern beaches and don't care about ideology just outcomes,” Mr Falinski said on Facebook. 

“If you want everything run and owned by government there is this country called Venezuela, you can try it out.” 

Retired Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Professor of Surgery, Richard West, was appalled by Mr Whitehead’s experience. 

“Public and private patients must all receive the same treatment at the Northern Beaches Hospital,” Prof. West told Pittwater Online News.  

A response to Mr. Whitehead’s experience was sought from NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Healthscope – but was unavailable at time of publication. 

Save Mona Vale Hospital Chairman Parry Thomas said Pittwater MP Rob Stokes should come up with a plan and start renovations on Mona Vale Hospital acute services before the state election in March.   

“The chaos at the new hospital highlights the need to reopen emergency and acute services at Mona Vale Hospital,” Mr Thomas told Pittwater Online News. 

The community always believed that Mr Stokes’ election promises about saving the hospital included all acute services and retention of a genuine emergency department, the SMVH chairman said.

“He’s recently come out strongly in support of a proper emergency department but that means, of course, that he’s also supporting the reopening of the hospital’s acute services because you can’t have an emergency department without them,” Mr Thomas said. 

“His statement has certainly raised the community’s expectations that he’s going to act not just talk.

“Our campaigning will get louder and stronger the longer it takes the government to move forward with a plan to reopen and action to renovate acute services in the lead up to the state election.”       

The group, including the first baby to be born at Mona Vale Hospital, Chelsey Baker, held a silent protest at Mona Vale Hospital on Wednesday. 

The demonstration against the closure of emergency, surgery, intensive care, maternity and other acute services aimed not to disturb patients being transferred but attracted a chorus of car horns honking support when it moved to Pittwater Road. 

However, the gathering also honoured the dedication and service to the community of doctors, nurses, other staff and volunteers since the hospital opened in 1964, Mr Thomas said. 

Another rally to protect public maternity services will be held outside Northern Beaches Hospital, on the Warringah Road side from 10.30 to 11.30am today, hosted by Friends of Northern Beaches Maternity Services. 

Midwifery Professor Hannah Dahlen, from Western Sydney University will join the rally and address the crowds about the problems with privately-run maternity services. 

Palm Beach Sailing Club Honours World And Olympic Champion Members At 2018 'Come Have Some Fun' Open Day

PBSC held their 2018 Open Day yesterday, Saturday November 3rd. As part of the ‘get on the water’ celebrations they launched the first phase of a program past Commodore Anthony Duchatel has been working on for the past four years – the recognition of members of the club who have excelled in the sport of sailing. Palm Beach Sailing Club is rich in a family focused ethos and enjoying the great sport of sailing. This, in turn, has produced a plethora of some of Australia’s great sailors, among them World Champions and Olympic medallists. 

The PBSC Members received a certificate and a life-long Honorary Membership of the club. In the future the club will be installing a plaque with their names at the PBSC Clubhouse.

Those honoured are a long list of sailors who have won multiple events, including many World Championships on the way to becoming Olympians and multi winners among the World Champions too. They include:

Olympics:

• David Forbes OAM - gold in Munich in 1972 Olympics in Star class, 
  
• Chris Cairnes - bronze in 1984 in Los Angeles in Tornado class
  
• Mitch Booth – bronze in Barcelona in 1992 (with John Forbes) and silver in 1996 in Savannah
  
• John Forbes - bronze in 1992 in Barcelona in Tornado 
  
• John Forbes - silver in Sydney 2000 in Tornado
  
• Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin - silver in Rio in 2016

World Titles:

• Rod and Kerry Waterhouse
  
• Peter Martin
  
• Martin Cross
  
• Anthony Duchatel and Evelyn Harves
  
• Don Wood
  
• Ian Bashford
  
• David Forbes
  
• Chris Cairns
  
• Mitch Booth
  
• John Forbes
  
• Jason Waterhouse
  
• Lisa Darmanin
  
• Susan Miller-Duchatel
• Ali and Kerli Corlett

Additionally, Members recognised the outstanding contributions of PBSC Member Upu Kila who was awarded an M.B.E for services to sailing in Papua New Guinea earlier this year. Upu will be presented with his M.B.E. by the Governor General of New Guinea on November 29th.

Pittwater Online News will be running a Profile on this champion after his presentation.

November is set to be a busy month for the club. In addition to the Open Day run, over the weekend of November 17-18th the club hosts the 2018 instalment of their annual Beware the Bullets Regatta. This will be the 53rd consecutive running of the annual regatta.

Classes/brands of boats attending: Hobie Cat 16, Hobie Cat 18, Taipan, Formula 18, A Class, Wetta. This year the regatta also incorporates the NSW State Titles for the Taipan Catamaran Class.

MORE HERE

Bilgola SLSC Hosts Round 1 Of The 2018-2019 SLS SNB Surf Boats Premiership

Bilgola SLSC hosted Round 1 in pristine conditions that were a little dumpy towards the shore as the tide lessened but provided smooth clean glorious waves for the run back in. A Brilliant Billy Day - and perfect for new crews having their first carnival!

In other Bilgola SLSC news the Surf Life Saving Foundation announced, officially, on November 2 that Bilgola's President Romilly Madew has been elected to the SLSF Board;

It is with great pleasure we announce the appointment of Romilly Madew to the Surf Life Saving Foundation Board.

Ms Madew is one of Australia’s most cutting-edge female leaders, as well as President and Patrol Captain of Bilgola Beach Surf Life Saving Club.

The Green Building Council of Australia’s CEO has a tremendous amount of innovative corporate expertise to share with the cause that’s incredibly close to her heart.

We are very excited to welcome Ms Madew to our Board and we are looking forward to learning from her extensive experience and insights.

Her deep understanding and personal connection to our frontline lifesaving services will also be of enormous benefit, helping the Foundation team and our amazing donors and supporters get closer to the work our volunteers do every day.

Read more about the appointment of Ms Madew and her accomplishments here

Congratulations Romilly - wonderful news!

Romilly Madew with Craig Smith-Gander, President of SLSWA at the October 26th, 2018 SLSA AGM

Coming up at Bilgola is their Ocean Swim. 

The Blackmore’s Billy Swim is Part of the Pittwater Ocean Swim Series - The Highlight of The Ocean Swimming Season in the Northern Beaches.

Thanks goes to the NSW State Government for their support of the Pittwater Ocean Swim Series. The first swim in the series is at Newport on Sunday, 6 January, Bilgola on Sunday 13 followed on 20 January at Mona Vale and the Big Swim (Palm Beach to Whale Beach) on Sunday 27 January. Avalon have changed their swim date to Sunday 14 April.

Each surf club has a range of swim courses and prizes to make the Series the highlight of the ocean swimming season. The Billy Swim includes a 500M and 1500M on this picturesque beach. More on the Pittwater Ocean Swim Series soon.

Northern Beaches Council’s Nice Little Earner

Hundreds of people are being booked at Mona Vale because of RMS incompetence and NBC laziness. They know about this but do nothing .... except continue to fine you. It’s probable that more than $20,000 has been ripped out of unsuspecting punters’ wallets because of this. Anyone for a GIPA to find out:

1. How many have been booked at $187 a pop and paid up?

2. How often has Northern Beaches Council been notified of the problem with the lines and the signs – and failed to act?

3. Why does the State Debt Recovery Office – the enforcer – autocratically refuse to acknowledge this incompetently marked pavement and poorly positioned signage? 

If you’ve been booked and you’ve not yet paid the fine consider an appeal in writing. And if they refuse you perhaps consider defending the matter in court as I successfully did.

If you’ve already coughed up could you appeal for a refund? After all, if it’s good enough for the banks why not State Revenue and the NBC?

This is not legal advice. This video is offered in good faith without prejudice.

RMS PAVEMENT MARKING: https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/business-i...

RMS SPECIFICATION R145: http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/business-in...

Report and video by John Illingsworth - Pittwater Pathways

Pittwater Mens Probus Club - Visit To The 2018 Temora Warbirds Airshow

Club members at Temora with a Catalina - photo by Michael Mannington

Members of the Pittwater Mens Probus Club recently visited the Temora Warbirds airshow at Temora, NSW. his show is the largest gathering of Warbird aircraft in Australia.

A local highlight of the show was the Cessna Dragonfly flown by Darren Crabb, Vice President of the Pittwater RSL Sub Branch. Darren was also the ‘Air Boss’ controlling the air movements during  the show.

Cessna Dragonfly. Pilot Darren Crabb - Vice President Pittwater RSL Sub-branch

This biannual show features military aircraft from the beginning of Australian military aircraft to the recent FA-18 Hornets.

Report by Ron Seldon and more spectacular photographs by Michael Mannington HERE