Arabic version: مراجعة إبوروث تؤيد الحوكمة وتتبنى 21 توصية

According to ABC News, an independent review of Epworth HealthCare’s clinical governance has found “no significant gaps” in the private provider’s framework while making 21 recommendations that Epworth has accepted.

The review was commissioned after Four Corners aired allegations that Melbourne gynaecologist Simon Gordon repeatedly removed tissue and organs from women for “severe” endometriosis when pathology showed little trace of the disease. Some patients underwent procedures to remove their ovaries, fallopian tubes and uteruses. The review did not examine Dr Gordon’s practice itself.

It found Epworth’s policies and guidelines were “robust” and “detailed”. Chief executive Andrew Stripp said the findings did not lessen the impact of patients’ experiences, saying he recognised the reporting had been distressing for many patients and their families and was sorry for the worry and uncertainty caused.

One recommendation called for peer-to-peer insight or multidisciplinary input when treatment that could compromise fertility is considered. Epworth said it would require a multidisciplinary review for such gynaecological procedures. The panel also said staff and executives did not thoroughly understand how external regulators, including the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and medical boards, could or should be involved in the provider’s governance framework.

The review urged improvements to patient-feedback processes and to the collection and analysis of surgical data. It said manual data handling and analysis created inefficiencies and inaccuracies, while noting Epworth was already improving data and analytics to give clinicians and leaders better information on patterns of practice, patient outcomes and risks.