THE Emmaville community is frustrated at the ongoing suspension of John Liu from the local hospital, but Hunter New England Health says a final determination may not be far away.
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Dr Liu continues to operate a general practice in Emmaville and Ashford, but his visiting medical officer status at Vegetable Creek Multipurpose Unit (MPU) was suspended in May after the health service cited concerns about his clinical practice.
Local resident Ellie Seagrave – who applauded HNEH’s appointment of Dr Liu at the end of 2008 as a member of the Vegetable Creek Hospital Auxiliary after more than a year without a permanent doctor – is now seeking answers to the dilemma in which the community again finds itself.
“The problem we are having is with the management of the Vegetable Creek Hospital and MPS, as well as the Hunter New England Health, (and) the confidentiality that ends up providing security for people that have perpetrated an injustice, and leaving a valued employee – namely Dr J Liu – without the same support that they provide to their other employees,” she said in an open letter.
Health service representatives Dr Peter Finlayson and Tablelands Cluster general manager Wendy Mulligan fronted a town meeting on the suspension in July, with Dr Finlayson saying at the time the independent investigation was not as a result of complaints from patients but rather internally instigated, and related to concerns over patient safety.
In her letter Mrs Seagrave cites a number of medical incidents in past months that may have been averted or alleviated if Dr Liu had been on duty, and expresses her concern with the time lag and poor use of resources when patients have to be transported to other health facilities.
In its response to Mrs Seagrave’s letter, HNEH said while it was unable to comment on specific cases detailed by Mrs Seagrave due to patient confidentiality, the investigation into Dr Liu is approaching its conclusion.
“I appreciate the concern of the Emmaville community, however our priority is to ensure we have followed due process and conducted a thorough and fair investigation,” Tablelands Cluster acting general manager Cathryn Jones said.
“We have taken this issue very seriously and want to assure the community that the process has not been delayed. Investigations such as this take a considerable amount of time.
“We are nearing the completion of the process and it is expected to be finalised soon.”
