Government to act on Emergency Departments

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick has this week issued a directive to the state’s hospitals to improve conditions for patients at Emergency Departments as Brisbane experiences a very difficult flu season.

Mr Dick has reinstated a directive which was rescinded by the LNP Government which obliges hospitals across the state, including regional Queensland, to avoid the practice of ramping.

“What this is about is getting patients who arrive by ambulance seen as quickly as possible, and freeing up paramedics sooner” said Mr Dick.

The directive requires Health services to:

• Ensure 90 per cent of patients arriving at Emergency Departments by ambulance will be received into the appropriate Emergency Department treatment area within 30 minutes
• Assume 24 hour responsibility for Emergency Department access.
• Provide a single point of contact for the Queensland Ambulance Service to enable Emergency Department access issues to be addressed 24 hours/day.
• Ensure “ambulance bypass” is not utilised except in the event of an internal or external disaster.
• Optimise patient flow and bed management strategies by actively utilising predictive bed management tools and patient flow management systems.
• Ensure triage staff undertake mandatory training to clarify the roles and scope of practice for Queensland Ambulance Service staff.
• Ensure all patients arriving by ambulance are triaged on arrival when clinically appropriate.
• Ensure no patient is returned to the ambulance after triage.

Mr Dick said reinstating the directive was a first step, and that the government  will consult with the Queensland Ambulance Service, the Queensland Nurses Union, United Voice and health services on further initiatives to improve the operation of Emergency Departments across the State.

This could include greater use of telehealth services and access to better referral options for GP services, where it is safe to do so.

There is always an increased demand on Emergency Departments during flu season which is why it is critically important that Queenslanders work with us and use Emergency Departments for emergency care. 

“If you are unsure, you can call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) any time of the day or night to get advice from a Registered Nurse about your health.”

The directive emerged from the Metropolitan Emergency Department Access Initiative (MEDAI), which was commenced by Labor in October 2011 to address ambulance ramping.

Mr Dick said that the ban on hospitals initiating “ambulance bypass” had been lifted in August 2014 when Lawrence Springborg rescinded the “Patient Access and Flow Directive.”

“What the figures show is that in the year 2014/15, after Lawrence Springborg removed directive, the number of ramping incidents in Queensland hospitals was almost double than the year before” Mr Dick said.

“When Lawrence Springborg rescinded the hospital access directive, he gave the green light for increased ramping and hospital bypass.

“We are now taking the first steps to reverse the damage and continue to ensure Emergency Departments are available when needed.”

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:    Andrew Fraser 0428 690 679