A surgeon incensed by plans to close operating theatres at Bulli Hospital says the move could push doctors out of the public health system.
Ear, nose and throat surgeon Dr Stuart MacKay said the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service had told him the closure was a cost-cutting exercise.
The move follows plans announced last week to "consolidate" theatres at Wollongong and Shellharbour hospitals.
Dr MacKay said the decision would jeopardise a teaching accreditation that was recently secured by Bulli Hospital, ensuring a regular supply of ear, nose and throat registrars to the region.
He and other surgeons were yet to receive details of the new arrangements.
But he said it was unlikely services could be run as efficiently elsewhere.
"Bulli Hospital is perhaps one of the most efficiently run public ear, nose and throat services that I've been involved in," Dr MacKay said.
"I've got a contract until 2012 that mentions Bulli and Wollongong, but no other hospital.
"We may have to consider withdrawing or significantly reducing our own input into the public system, which would be a tragedy for the people of the Illawarra.
"It's already hard enough for them to recruit to the Illawarra."
Dr MacKay is one of three ear, nose and throat surgeons who together perform the bulk of the procedures at Bulli.
None was consulted about plans to close the theatres.
All learnt of the decision after it was made, despite the health service's claim the plans were at the suggestion of "surgeons themselves".
Dr MacKay said he had since contacted the health service and been told the plans were a cost-cutting measure.
"As I'm informed, (area health) provided a number of strategies to NSW Health to cut costs and this was one that was approved," he said.
Head of the Illawarra's ear, nose and throat department Dr Sharad Tamhane said the changes could end up costing the health service more than it would save.
"Waiting lists will get very large, the numbers will increase," Dr Tamhane said.
He warned that procedures would have to be done on weekends.
"The theatre staff, the hospital staff, the registrars - everybody will be paid much more," he said.
Dr Tamhane said he was awaiting more information on the health service plans.
But he said it would only be in "dire circumstances" that he would withdraw his services from the public system.
The hospital's third ear, nose and throat surgeon, Dr Stephen Pearson, said he would maintain his services at Wollongong Hospital.
"I'm not going to pull out of the public system altogether," Dr Pearson said.
"But if what they offer is untenable, in terms of allocating appropriate theatre time, I can't understand how I will provide the same level of service," he said.
"If they can't make them (theatre sessions) up, what I'll be doing is consulting in my rooms, and from a private practice point of view there's more than enough work.
"I'm not going to be idle. The disadvantage will be for the public patients, who are going to be waiting longer for operations."
The Mercury requested an interview with the health service yesterday morning, but was told relevant staff were unavailable.
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