Specialist rostering at the Royal Adelaide Hospital is again under review after a repeat of the circumstances surrounding two stroke patient deaths, which are currently the subject of a coronial inquest. From July, two senior radiologists will both be on leave at the same time for a period of nine days — a situation the hospital sought to avoid following the deaths of Michael John Russell, 60, and Leslie Robert Graham, 87, in April last year. Mr Russell and Mr Graham arrived at the RAH on the same day and needed clot reduction procedures. At the time of their deaths, two specialist interventional neuroradiologists (INRs) were both on holiday. SA Health Minister Stephen Wade has said he was “surprised and disappointed” a similar rostering problem would occur in July, suggesting it could increase the risk for patients.
