It is true that staff on-call for Bega Hospital theatres is paid the same on-call rate as Pambula staff.

However, Bega staff would perform 20 to 30 times as much work during that time over a year and the call-back payments per case would be hugely less.

Taxpayers should not have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to indulge the convenience and pockets of four GPs.

Dr Ross Wilson, the GP obstetrician and RDA Member who sat on the Obstetric Review Panel, rang me two weeks ago and stated to me that he stands by his role in the review findings and the appropriateness of its recommendations. (See story opposite page).

I was astounded by his honesty and preparedness to expose himself to a potential personal attack from the RDA Executive and I am grateful for his courage.

However, I suspect that Dr Wilson will not be subjected to the same vilification at the hands of the RDA as I have been.

As for the “Conflict of Interest” theory, this is where I really split my sides laughing.

Yes, I am Director of Critical Care and have been so for the past four years, long before this obstetric issue raised its head.

Like the GPs of the southern end of the shire, I am a contractor and not an employee of GSAHS.

I therefore have the right to comment, however and whenever I choose on whatever subject I choose.

Dr Mara’s hypocrisy lies in his denying me the same rights that he so freely bestows on those who support his position and to whom he in turn supports.

So what would happen if Pambula Hospital were to close, something I am totally opposed to.

Well, Bega Hospital is already struggling with the demands placed upon its own emergency department with over 12,000 patients coming through the doors each year.

The closure of the Pambula Hospital Emergency Department would see an additional 10,000 patients come to Bega and the system would fall apart within weeks.

In addition, the loss of 30 beds which Pambula Hospital provide would see Bega Hospital utterly and completely overloaded and the end of all public hospital elective surgery on the Far South Coast.

With my anaesthetic practice, University Senior lectureship, Directorship of Emergency at Bega Hospital, duties as a Retrieval Consultant with SouthCare in Canberra, teaching commitments with the Australasian College of Surgeons

and Sydney Medical Simulation Centre, membership of State and National committees on Trauma Services and Trauma Care education, and my position as Chair of the Bega Hospital Medical Staff Council, I think I have enough to do without needing Pambula Hospital to close, Bega Hospital being brought to its knees, and Critical Care services falling apart.

How would that serve my interests, Dr Mara?

Dr Mara once again is long on accusations and short on substance.

If Pambula Hospital closed I would resign my directorship as I would not want to have to deal with the catastrophic mess to follow.

And my resignation would be a final act and not a bluff.

Nor would I be guilty of trying to disguise one failed attempt at industrial blackmail by describing the next attempt as an “olive branch”.

Given the hundreds of thousands of dollars of income the Pambula and Merimbula GP obstetricians will lose if they don’t make their way back into the public health service, I’d like to hear Dr Mara’s views on their “conflict of interest”?

The general public may be trusting, but they are neither gullible nor stupid.

The RDA’s entire campaign has relied on convincing the public that Pambula Hospital is being closed.

How else would you get people to support your obstetric agenda when the majority of women in the region as well as doctors, support a single sustainable service?

Pambula Hospital will never close before a new regional facility is open and probably not even then.

I have already been involved in discussions some weeks ago with the integrated services manager for Bega and Pambula hospitals, looking at expansion of theatre services and bed utilisation at Pambula Hospital for the next several years.

Finally, I have written as an individual and not as Chair of the Bega Hospital Medical Staff Council.

The RDA has consistently refused to acknowledge my position in that regard and not once during his commentary did Dr Mara refer to me by my title as Chair.

Given he has commented as an individual, I will respond as an individual.

Dr Mara, however, is more than happy to present his comments hiding behind his position as Secretary of the RDA.

Dr Gabe Khouri

Bega

Disappointed

SIR,

The Rural Doctors Association of NSW’s decision to launch a personal attack (Dr Paul Mara BDN 28/11) represents a disappointing development in discussions surrounding health provision in the Bega Valley.

Matthew Nott

Bega

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