A review of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department at Canberra’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) has again painted a bleak picture with patients facing high safety risks.

It has been reported the findings also highlight serious workplace cultural issues, staffing issues, poor behaviour and unacceptable overtime more than six months after training accreditation was put at risk.

Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Health Leanne Castley said the issues highlighted in this report are nothing new with similar concerns raised in July last year and as far back as 2010 and 2014.

“Consultants are still not complying with on-call requirements, trainees are still being asked to perform procedures they are not credentialled for and work excessive overtime – these are hallmarks of a Minister and government asleep at the wheel,” Ms Castley said.

“Clearly, with significant risks to patient safety, the situation, if anything, has worsened since last year’s scathing RANZCOG report that found the department had not met five out of six overview standards.”

When asked at Budget Estimates last year about a potential suspension of training accreditation for this unit, the Health Minister and officials maintained there were some “known challenges” but that the “unit is working”.

“Canberra Women and staff are entitled to the assurance that the government will do everything they can to solve the serious issues identified in this unit by RANZCOG over six months ago, yet the Minister has failed on both fronts.” Ms Castley said.

“It is no surprise that CHS is struggling to attract and retain staff to improve both patient safety and staff wellbeing, when the Minister cannot fix issues in her hospital that have been known for more than a decade.

“The Canberra Liberals have put forward a number of motions in the Assembly this term including calls for the government to explore the provision of retention bonuses or other incentives to attract and retain frontline workers which the government refuse to support.

“If elected, the Canberra Liberals will also initiate a Royal Commission into the ACT Health System that will review the systems and governance at all levels and ensure service and accountability is at the core of our health system,” Ms Castley concluded.