The operation of parts of the fetal medicine unit at the Canberra women's and children's hospital is set to be outsourced, in a move which has angered unions.
Canberra Health Services is tendering for the operation of some services at the unit in the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children after a number of specialists left.
But the Community and Public Sector Union has lodged a formal dispute with the service over their decision to outsource. The union has said it is prepared to take the matter to the Fair Work Commission.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith has denied the unit is being outsourced, saying all existing staff would keep their position and the tender was to boost the capacity of the unit.
The unit lost its training accreditation nine months ago due to specialist shortfalls and have been unable to find new staff despite numerous attempts to do so.
A number of specialists in the unit are also on leave and there are fears more staff will leave due to current workplace conditions.
The tender issued by Canberra Health Services, not advertised publicly, requested private providers to supply medical and sonography services. The tender asked for one certified maternal fetal medicine specialist and three sonographers.
The provider would also be required to do ultrasounds and reports and training services.
CPSU acting ACT regional secretary Brenton Higgins said Canberra Health Services had dropped the ball and said outsourcing the service was not a solution.
"Canberra Health Services have looked at the issues facing the FMU and instead of rolling up their sleeves and finding solutions, they've put it in the too hard basket," he said.
Mr Higgins said the union had not been consulted about the outsourcing, which would affect CPSU members, and he said it also contradicted ACT government policy.
"Had CHS taken the time to consult the union, we would have told them not only is outsourcing the fetal medicine unit not a solution but it blatantly contradicts the ACT government's insourcing agenda," he said.
"Canberrans expect vital services caring for vulnerable parents and children to be delivered by the public health system, not an outsourced private company because CHS has dropped the ball."
The Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation ACT is also critical of the move to outsource.
"ASMOF is extremely concerned CHS would seek to put this out to tender," ASMOF ACT executive officer Steve Ross said.
"It sets a dangerous precedent for dealing with shortages of medical practitioners."
Ms Stephen-Smith has previously sought to reassure Canberrans the fetal medicine unit is still a safe service despite the loss of training accreditation due to specialist shortfalls. She said she met with president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which is responsible for accreditation, this week and the president did not express any concern about the safety of the unit.
Opposition health spokeswoman Leanne Castley said the tender was an "abject admission" from the government that it had failed to provide an adequate unit.
"It is astounding that the minister would look to plug gaps in this unit by outsourcing a solution rather than work with employees who are still with CHS," she said.
"The lack of applicants for the position suggests the hospital's reputation is tarnished and that the minister should have done everything she could to have kept the wonderful staff in the unit."
Ms Castley also took aim at Ms Stephen-Smith for not mentioning the outsourcing during a debate on the issue in the Legislative Assembly three weeks ago.
"The minister did not mention that these services would be outsourced in her speech three weeks ago which goes to show the lack of transparency and culture of secrecy this government operates under," she said.
Ms Stephen-Smith refuted this and said she spoke about efforts around developing visiting medical officer arrangements.
The Health Minister then also claimed staff in the unit were distressed about the public reports of the unit losing training accreditation, saying she had visited the unit and spoken with staff.
"Some of these staff have been with the unit for many years and the team as a whole has experienced significant distress as a result of the ongoing misinformation in the public domain. I want to assure them that no existing jobs are being outsourced. The current tender is about bolstering capacity and supporting them to do their important work," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
"The tender process currently underway is precisely this - an option to provide additional resources through additional [visiting medical officer] arrangements."
The Canberra Times has been told about widespread discontent within obstetrics and gynaecology at the women and children's hospital by multiple sources working within and familiar with the area.
We've made it a whole lot easier for you to have your say. Our new comment platform requires only one log-in to access articles and to join the discussion on The Canberra Times website. Find out how to register so you can enjoy civil, friendly and engaging discussions. See our moderation policy here.
