Anneliese Pixton spent four days recovering in Orange Base Hospital’s ICU ward after the elderly grand mother was transferred from Dubbo earlier this month following post-surgical complications.

Mrs Pixton’s son Terry told the Daily Liberal his family was left with grave fears for Mrs Pixton’s wellbeing after she was transferred by road out of the ICU because of nurse shortages at Dubbo Hospital.

Mrs Pixton was eventually transferred out to Orange on February 7, after mechanical issues grounded the medical retrieval helicopter at Dubbo the night before.

Mr Pixton was told his mother was given a 50-50 chance or surviving her ordeal.

“We were told from the outset it would be touch-and-go,” he said.

While Mrs Pixton is now recovering back at Lourdes her family has been left distraught by the ordeal, claiming stress had been compounded by the financial sting incurred by the move.

“Mum is recovering, thankfully she doesn’t remember much about the whole ordeal,” Mr Pixton said.

“But financially it’s become very stressful. The distance between Mendooran and Orange is 240 kilometres and the idea that there aren’t even enough nurses to cover shifts in a hospital the size of Dubbo’s is simply appalling.”

Mr Pixton claimed while nurses were “working around the clock, and called in on days off” shifts had gone unfilled because budgetary constraints had put a freeze on hiring new staff.

However, Western NSW Local Health District refuted the claim.

Acting director of operations Sharon McKay said the hospital was funded for three ICU beds at a ratio of one nurse per patient - an agreed number reached between the health district and the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association.

In a statement issued to the Daily Liberal Ms McKay alluded to overcrowding in the ICU as the reason behind Mrs Pixton’s transfer however, the hospital said it was unable to comment on individual cases.

“When a situation arises where there may be more demand for ventilated beds that we can provide for safely, a decision will be made to transfer a patient to another facility, such as Orange, who can accommodate them and provide the care they need,” Ms McKay said.

“This would generally be a decision made jointly in consultation with the director of nursing, general manager, director of medical services and the nursing unit manager with the most suitable patient selected for transfer.

“The unit is always staffed to the correct nurse: patient ratio.”

But Mr Pixton accused the health district of disguising the problem.

“Staff at the hospital are saying it’s an ongoing problem, but everybody’s too afraid to speak up,” he said.

“I have no complaints about how they’re doing their jobs, they’re just under-staffed.”