Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2008/Navy Health at St. Vinnies
By Annie Casey
The relocation of the Balmoral Naval Hospital (BNH) to the St Vincent’s Hospital campus at Darlinghurst Sydney in March, has brought unexpected benefits, including a very high level of treatment which simultaneously avoids duplicating costs, public money and resources.
The temporary closure of the Naval hospital at HMAS Penguin and its location at St Vincent’s followed the 2004 structural audit which identified a need to refurbish the existing facility.
The new Navy ward, in St Vincent’s Xavier building, now has the ability to receive and, manage acute medical and surgical patients requiring urgent intervention.
The following case demonstrates how the Navy Ward is fulfilling a new and expanded role:
A 45-year-old has presented to a local health centre with chest pain and multiple risk factors. The Navy Ward received calls from two doctors expressing their concern as the member was now reporting chest pain with minimal exertion.
Urgent admission to the Navy Ward was arranged and the patient was seen by a SVH cardiologist within 30 mins of arrival and he was taken to the catheter lab 30 mins later for an angiogram which resulted in excluding a cardiac origin to the chest pain. This was a good result in what could have been a life-threatening situation.
OIC Navy Ward CMDR Nigel Carlton said before the move patients would have been admitted to another hospital for treatment.
“Navy has traditionally sent medivacs to BNH but we are now getting similar Army cases,” he said
“We also manage members who present to the ED with triage category 3 (need to have treatment within 30 mins as may have potentially life-threatening condition) and categories 4 (within one hour) and 5 (within two hours), which are sent to the Navy Ward for treatment. “
Although the immediate service area includes the establishments: HMA Ships Watson, Kuttabul, Penguin and Waterhen; Victoria and Randwick Barracks and Defence Plaza - there is now a growing tendency to receive patients from much further afield.
One recent example of this came in a telephone call from a doctor at Robertson Barracks Medical Centre, Darwin. He sought advice on the management of a patient who had spent two months in intensive care (ICU). He later developed an infection - a further complication to his recovery.
He was an inpatient in Royal Darwin Hospital but his orthopædic surgeon had recommended transfer to a large teaching hospital in a major capital city with appropriate expertise. Manager medical services (MMS) accepted the patient to the Navy Ward and the member was transferred by care flight.
Previously, this member would not have been accepted at BNH at HMAS Penguin as it would have been unable to provide the multidisciplinary management and expertise required.
These are just a couple of the diverse and demanding cases which have found their way to Navy Ward in its opening weeks but they demonstrate how the ward is in prime position to manage complex cases with efficiency and effectiveness - tapping into arguably some of the best medical services in Australia.
Access to digital radiology, online pathology, bedside specialist consults, emergency and surgical services in a modern hospital setting has changed the way Navy delivers healthcare to its members.
A strategic alliance covering training placements will also greatly enhance the clinical preparedness of health staff in support of their role on the primary casualty reception facility and in other operational health support tasks.
The refurbished BNHC should be completed in the next nine months and will continue to provide outpatient services (currently in building 3), specialist treatment, physiotherapy, dental and pharmacy services in support of base activities at HMAS Penguin.
The centre will also provide a 10- bed low-dependency rehabilitation facility.
The potential of the Navy Ward is still evolving but if, it’s opening weeks are any indication, than it’s likely to achieve an enviable excellence in healthcare for Navy and ADF members.
In a world of rapid and dynamic change, particularly in the medical treatment and technologies arena, Navy is ideally placed to keep up with top quality healthcare through its co-location and growing relationship at the St Vincent’s campus.
Initially, the Navy Ward has an option for up to five years in the Xavier building with the longer term option(s) to be determined.
