Trauma surgeons shortage fuelling hospital beds crisis

The State Government is under more pressure over Queensland hospitals. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) says the lack of availability of emergency theatres and trauma surgeons is contributing to a drastic bed shortage at public hospitals. RACS spokesman Professor Ian Gough says the lack of access to beds and operating theatres for elective surgery could be addressed by effectively quarantining services within major hospitals. He says hospitals should have a dedicated trauma surgeon and an emergency theatre available on-call at all times. "You put on a team of surgeons led by a... [read full story]