Hospital chief backs cardiology services

Launceston General Hospital has rejected claims patients will be at risk if a cardiologist is not replaced.

Launceston General Hospital has rejected claims patients will be at risk if a cardiologist is not replaced.The hospital has decided not to renew Dr Quentin Forrest’s contract. He will finish in October.Dr Forrest is the only physician in Tasmania’s north able to perform a procedure known as emergency angioplasty, which clears blocked arteries.Until a replacement is found, patients will have to go to Hobart for the procedure.In a letter leaked to the media, Dr Forrest says this will result in avoidable deaths or complications.However, that has been disputed by the hospital’s chief executive officer, Liz Stackhouse.”While I do not wish to engage in public debate over the issues raised in the letter, I reject the accusations by Dr Forrest about the safety of the pacemaker clinic and cardiology services,” she said.”These allegations are not supported by other senior clinicians including senior cardiologists.”(Source: ABC, Monday, August 18, 2003. 6:13am (AEST))