Diamond Member Pelican Press 0 Posted August 16, 2024 Diamond Member Share Posted August 16, 2024 This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Intravenous fluid shortage having a ‘huge’ impact for WA patients, AMA claims A shortage of intravenous fluids is having a “huge” impact on WA patients and forcing clinics to cancel procedures such as iron infusions, according to the State’s medical association. The nationwide shortage of IV products such as saline and other additives used in routine and emergency surgeries and resuscitations, has led some doctors to warn elective surgeries could be impacted. Most of Australia’s IV fluids are manufactured by Baxter Healthcare in Sydney, which is understood to be struggling to meet demand. A WA Health spokesperson told The West the department had “adequate levels of IV fluid stock to continue operating as usual”. But *********** Medical Association WA president Michael Page said that although hospitals — which are generally considered priority clients for the manufacturer — may have enough stock, “smaller players” in the health system like day hospitals and clinics, had been impacted. Dr Page said the issue hit health providers about a month ago and had not let up. Some general practices have been forced to cancel or postpone iron infusions for non-urgent patients, the AMA WA president said. Dr Page — who is a chemical pathologist at Clinipath — said his employer had not run out of fluids but had been forced to find alternative suppliers. Camera IconWA hospitals are operating as normal despite a nationwide shortage, the Department of Health has said. Credit: Pixabay “The issue is huge. It indicates a lack of resilience in our system that an issue with one manufacturer can lead to an inability to get supply for months,” he said. “You cannot understate the importance of these fluids, not only for hospitals but also in outpatient care. “It has been a real eye-opener and the unpreparedness should be a cause of concern for everyone.” The issue was discussed by State and Territory Health Ministers at a meeting in Sydney on Friday, with ministers concluding the shortages “while easing, are expected to continue through 2024”. “Jurisdictions are bringing unprecedented collaboration to the issue, with a cross-jurisdictional Response Group convened by all states and territories and the Commonwealth and including the views of the broader health system through representation from private hospitals and primary care,” ministers said in a ****** statement. “This Response Group will continue to meet on a weekly basis, or more frequently if required, while supply ******** constrained in Australia.” The WA Department spokesperson said its clinical, patient safety and contracting teams were working together to look at ways to preserve their current stock and “find safe and appropriate alternative products”. “The Department is working closely with the Therapeutic Goods Administration and other state and territory health agencies to identify further solutions,” they said. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told the ABC deliveries to the nation’s most populous State had occurred this week and while the issue remained a “significant challenge” surgeries had not yet been cancelled. “I’m certainly not hiding the challenge, this is tough going, but we have controls in place,” the minister said. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up #Intravenous #fluid #shortage #huge #impact #patients #AMA #claims This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Link to comment https://hopzone.eu/forums/topic/100823-intravenous-fluid-shortage-having-a-%E2%80%98huge%E2%80%99-impact-for-wa-patients-ama-claims/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
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