In a letter to the South Coast Register regarding the lack of a full time fracture clinic at Shoalhaven District Hospital, Nowra based orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ian Davison said while only two orthopaedic surgeons were appointed to the hospital there was a further seven orthopaedic surgeons offering clinical services in Nowra.

“The fundamental issue limiting Shoalhaven orthopaedic services is a lack of funding and facilities, not a lack of specialists,” Dr Davison said.

Long-time advocate for a local fracture service Wally Bourke says he has been continually told by the health service “it cannot attract surgeons to the area”.

He has been fighting for a full time service for six years after fracturing his knee during a fall in 2013 and like many locals had to undergo treatment in Wollongong.

“I note with some sadness the article dated March 2, 2019 on the South Coast Register website noting the lack of orthopaedic services at the Shoalhaven District Hospital,” Dr Davison said.

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“This is manifestly not the case.

“There are presently seven orthopaedic surgeons offering clinical services in Nowra.

“Only two have been offered public hospital appointments to the Shoalhaven District Hospital.

“Of the remaining five, two have been driven to take public hospital appointments in Wollongong, where they are commonly called upon to treat emergency patients from the Shoalhaven.

“Both are currently seeking appointment to the Shoalhaven District Hospital to provide emergency and elective surgical services to uninsured patients.”

Dr Davison said with a state election looming, both major parties should stand up and declare their position on funding orthopaedic services.

“It is absurd that a $434 million redevelopment should not include the expansion of orthopaedic services to the ageing population of the Shoalhaven.”

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When contacted for comment Shoalhaven Local Health District reaffirmed a statement from last week attributed to Executive Director of Clinical Operations, Margaret Martin who said Shoalhaven Hospital was currently looking at expanding its on-call orthopaedic capacity to provide more services to the community.

She said at this stage no decisions had been made if the proposed $434m Shoalhaven hospital upgrade would include a permanent fracture clinic.

“Shoalhaven Hospital offers a weekly fracture clinic each Wednesday and the hospital employs two orthopaedic surgeons who are on-call to provide emergency orthopaedic trauma services two days a week and two weekends a month,” Ms Martin said.

“When patients require services outside of those service times they have the option of attending Wollongong Hospital or they can be referred to a local private orthopaedic practice.”

She said Shoalhaven Hospital manages less complex orthopaedic conditions, with major trauma patients referred to Wollongong Hospital for treatment.”