Doctors lying to jump queues: claim
DOCTORS are being tempted to lie about the seriousness of their patients' conditions so they can decrease their time on waiting lists.
Patients across the Far North have been waiting up to eight years for outpatient and elective surgery appointments at Cairns Base Hospital.
Australian Medical Association of Queensland president Dr Mason Stevenson said the situation had become so bad doctors were, at times, being forced to bend the rules to avoid their category three patients – regarded as being in a less serious condition – languishing on public waiting lists.
"There was and still is a temptation for doctors to recategorise patients into category two to better ensure surgery is performed in a more timely manner," Dr Stevenson said.
Queensland Health says it is not aware of this claim, as the AMAQ had not raised the issue with it.
Health Minister Paul Lucas last week acknowledged there was a problem with elective surgery waiting lists in the Far North, claiming it could only be solved with additional funding from the Federal Government.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has flagged a federal takeover of public hospitals, which will help cut waiting lists for specialist outpatient times within the state.
Cairns Base Hospital, in the meantime, is in the process of hiring two more surgeons and has started farming patients out to regional hospitals to alleviate pressure on its waiting lists.
Dr Stevenson said the major problem remained with category two patients, which by definition, had a more pressing need for surgery within three months.
He said the reason there was a real possibility patients could deteriorate and develop a life-threatening condition.
"This gets to the question of the appropriateness of patients on these lists," he said.
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Desperate times: Australian Medical Association of Queensland president Dr Mason Stevenson says long waiting lists are driving some doctors are tempted to lie about the seriousness of their patients' conditions.
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