A BID to get more tonsillectomies performed in Tamworth has been shot down with the hospital citing a lack of funding.
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A private Tamworth practice took to social media to tell its patients its proposal to increase access to surgery for public patients without health insurance was nixed by Hunter New England Health.
"We have been unable to offer tonsillectomy operations locally due to the small but present risk of post-operative bleeding which has the potential to be catastrophic without emergency theatre access," Regional Specialists Tamworth director Mian Bi said.
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"A service proposal for a weekly or fortnightly theatre list, as well as emergency theatre access was put forth.
"I was informed by the Tamworth Hospital general manager that the proposal has been rejected due to lack of funding."
Dr Bi said the practice would seek a pathway for its public patients to get tonsillectomies at John Hunter hospital or elsewhere in Sydney.
"We will continue to offer ENT consultations and assessments at our clinic for all patients and continue to operate out of Tamara Private Hospital," Dr Bi said.
Ahead of the specialist clinic opening, Dr Bi said it has secured the services of two fly-in-fly-out Ear Nose and Throat surgeons.
The practice's director said he had been negotiating with the hospital and Hunter New England Health since the end of 2018.
"Over the coming week, we will be calling all existing patients who are affected by this development to make appropriate arrangements. Thank you for your patience and understanding," he said.
A number of health professionals have recognised the need for more for more ENT specialists in town with locals facing extended wait times and travel to see surgeons.
A program was launched last year which brought specialist Kelvin Kong to the region to train local community health workers in Tamworth, Armidale, Gunnedah and Inverell. Hunter New England Health was contacted for comment but did not respond before deadline.
Update: Statement from Hunter New England Health
"HNELHD is currently discussing potential options for collaborations with Tamworth Regional Specialists," Peel sector general manager Yvonne Patricks said.
"It is important any options are sustainable so we can continue to provide a quality ENT service to our community.
"In April this year, John Hunter Hospital started providing an ENT outreach operative service at Tamworth Hospital, so more patients can receive care locally.
"In 2017/18, more than 97 per cent of patients in NSW had their elective surgery within the timeframe recommended by their doctor.
"This is the best on-time surgery performance in Australia.
"In regards to paediatric surgery, the NSW Government is investing $45 million for an extra 8,000 surgeries, including ENT.
"The 2019-20 Budget for Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) is around $2.4 billion, an increase of around $80 million on the previous year.
"Between mid-2012 and mid-2018, HNELHD has increased its workforce by an additional 1115 full time equivalent staff - an increase of 10.6 per cent, including 277 more doctors and 627 more nurses."