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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/21/christmas-island-delays-in-medical-transfers-life-threatening-say-doctors
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| Christmas Island: delays in medical transfers life-threatening, say doctors | Christmas Island: delays in medical transfers life-threatening, say doctors |
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| The Department of Immigration decides who leaves Christmas Island and the manner in which they leave. Doctors may say a child needs urgent surgery in Perth but the department decides when, if ever, that child will reach a hospital on the mainland. | The Department of Immigration decides who leaves Christmas Island and the manner in which they leave. Doctors may say a child needs urgent surgery in Perth but the department decides when, if ever, that child will reach a hospital on the mainland. |
| The 15 doctors whose report into “unsafe practices and gross departures from generally accepted medical standards” on Christmas Island has been reported exclusively by Guardian Australia, are highly critical of long and “life-threatening” delays in medical transfers. | The 15 doctors whose report into “unsafe practices and gross departures from generally accepted medical standards” on Christmas Island has been reported exclusively by Guardian Australia, are highly critical of long and “life-threatening” delays in medical transfers. |
| The doctors say an epileptic child suffering increasing seizures was held for at least two months on the island, and that a baby with a defective pacemaker also had to wait two months to leave, even though the cardiology team at the Princess Margaret hospital for children in Perth was “willing to help in any way possible to expedite the patient’s transfer”. | The doctors say an epileptic child suffering increasing seizures was held for at least two months on the island, and that a baby with a defective pacemaker also had to wait two months to leave, even though the cardiology team at the Princess Margaret hospital for children in Perth was “willing to help in any way possible to expedite the patient’s transfer”. |
| They cite the difficulties of medical transfer as one of the most persistent conflicts they face in fulfilling their duty of care to their patients. Making a difficult situation worse, according to the doctors, are “widespread problems of data management” at International Health and Medical Services, the private contractor that supplies doctors to the island. | They cite the difficulties of medical transfer as one of the most persistent conflicts they face in fulfilling their duty of care to their patients. Making a difficult situation worse, according to the doctors, are “widespread problems of data management” at International Health and Medical Services, the private contractor that supplies doctors to the island. |
| Perhaps the most bizarre of the 37 case studies of medical failings in the doctors’ report is the man known as C13 who waited “extended periods” on the island though in pain and requiring surgery. At last he was flown out. “Sent to the mainland for 20 days then returned without seeing a specialist.” | Perhaps the most bizarre of the 37 case studies of medical failings in the doctors’ report is the man known as C13 who waited “extended periods” on the island though in pain and requiring surgery. At last he was flown out. “Sent to the mainland for 20 days then returned without seeing a specialist.” |
| The doctors write: “This further administrative delay is cruel, unsafe and inefficient.” | The doctors write: “This further administrative delay is cruel, unsafe and inefficient.” |
| A fortnight is supposed to be as long as patients requiring the most urgent transfers are supposed to wait. “However,” the doctors write, “this is frequently inappropriate as there are a multitude of medical conditions which require more urgent attention”. | A fortnight is supposed to be as long as patients requiring the most urgent transfers are supposed to wait. “However,” the doctors write, “this is frequently inappropriate as there are a multitude of medical conditions which require more urgent attention”. |
| That fortnight has blown out. “Few Category 1 patients leave before four weeks and some wait at least as long as two months. There have been periods of time where no patients have left the island despite needing immediate tertiary attention.” | That fortnight has blown out. “Few Category 1 patients leave before four weeks and some wait at least as long as two months. There have been periods of time where no patients have left the island despite needing immediate tertiary attention.” |
| Neither doctors nor patients know when the flight to a mainland hospital might happen. “During these delays, medical staff attempt to manage these often complex and painful conditions with ad hoc and temporizing measures,” write the doctors. | Neither doctors nor patients know when the flight to a mainland hospital might happen. “During these delays, medical staff attempt to manage these often complex and painful conditions with ad hoc and temporizing measures,” write the doctors. |
| “The waiting time is indeterminate and no advice can be given as to when a person is to leave for definitive care. This results in medical staff being unable to effectively counsel patients and increases patient distress and anxiety, frequently exacerbating mental illness.” | “The waiting time is indeterminate and no advice can be given as to when a person is to leave for definitive care. This results in medical staff being unable to effectively counsel patients and increases patient distress and anxiety, frequently exacerbating mental illness.” |
| Scott Morrison, the minister for immigration and border security refused at a press conference on Friday to discuss any aspect of the doctors’ letter of concerns. | Scott Morrison, the minister for immigration and border security refused at a press conference on Friday to discuss any aspect of the doctors’ letter of concerns. |
| Guardian Australia asked the minister if immigration detention was the best place to be for a young woman with level-five cerebral palsy. The doctors say that for some months they have been trying to have a woman with that condition – she is in a wheelchair and relies on her family for all activities of daily living – transferred from detention. | Guardian Australia asked the minister if immigration detention was the best place to be for a young woman with level-five cerebral palsy. The doctors say that for some months they have been trying to have a woman with that condition – she is in a wheelchair and relies on her family for all activities of daily living – transferred from detention. |
| When the doctors sent their report to IHMS in late November she was still in detention. “She has developed multiple problems,” write the doctors. “She is exhibiting signs of mental distress.” | When the doctors sent their report to IHMS in late November she was still in detention. “She has developed multiple problems,” write the doctors. “She is exhibiting signs of mental distress.” |
| Morrison refused to address the case. “These claims are being reviewed by IHMS to determine their veracity,” he said. “Once that’s been done they’ll make some recommendations in terms of action.” | Morrison refused to address the case. “These claims are being reviewed by IHMS to determine their veracity,” he said. “Once that’s been done they’ll make some recommendations in terms of action.” |
| The department for immigration and border protection was contacted for comment on Friday. Guardian Australia has yet to receive a response. | |
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