Despite unprecedented pressures, serious ED presentations continue to be seen on time in Wide Bay-Burnett

At a time when record numbers of patients are attending Queensland Emergency Departments, the most critical patients are still being seen on time.

However, less serious patients are being reminded that accessing treatment from more appropriate sources – such as GPs, pharmacies, Satellite Hospitals, or Urgent Care Clinics – will help keep emergency departments available for emergencies.

Across Wide Bay HHS, the average ED wait time in the period from April to June 2023 was 20 minutes compared to 35 minutes for the same period in 2022.

The percentage of patients transferred from QAS to an ED bed within 30 minutes (known as patient off stretcher time or POST) improved from 58 per cent to 63.2 per cent between April and June 2023.

At Hervey Bay Hospital, all 267 Category 1 patients – the most urgent cases – were seen by a clinician within two minutes of arriving at Hervey Bay Hospital Emergency Department in the 2022-23 financial year.

The average ED wait time in the period from April to June 2023 was 30 minutes compared to 50 minutes for the same period in 2022.

The percentage of patients transferred from QAS to an ED bed within 30 minutes (known as patient off stretcher time or POST) improved from 50.7 per cent to 63.3 per cent between April and June 2023.

However, less urgent presentations place unnecessary pressure on the system and, potentially, put the lives of others at risk.

Patients with conditions such as UTIs, earaches and ingrown toenails don’t need to attend an emergency department.

In the first six months of 2023, 499 category 5 patients presented at the Bundaberg Hospital Emergency Department and 847 to the Hervey Bay Hospital Emergency Department seeking treatment, many of whom could have sought their less-urgent treatment elsewhere.

In the most extreme case from May to July, a Bundaberg Hospital patient waited over 12 hours to be seen.

As well as people coming to the ED for repeat prescriptions and medical certificates, some less-urgent presentations included a splinter under a fingernail, a mild rash that had been present on their arm for three weeks, and someone who had ‘kicked their little toe on a stick yesterday’.

If you are unsure if you should attend the ED, call 13 HEALTH or your GP for advice.

You can also visit the Wide Bay HHS website for more information on our emergency departments and other health services.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman:

Our hospital emergency departments are facing unprecedented demand, with more ED presentations than ever before.

Our government is investing in more staff, more beds, and more health infrastructure than any government in Queensland history, including $11 billion to build three new hospitals and nine hospital expansions.

These projects are delivering 3,378 new beds, including 500 new beds in this financial year.

More staff and more beds are critical to reducing the pressure on our busy EDs.

Last financial year, Queensland EDs saw over 100 presentations every single day for a UTI. These are not the kinds of emergency conditions our EDs are designed to treat.

We know that we have had a decade of under investment in GPs and primary care, which is meaning more people are arriving at our EDs.

I’m grateful that the Albanese government is tripling the bulk billing incentive. The combination of our Satellite Hospitals with Urgent Care Clinics will provide more alternative ways for Queenslanders to get the care they need, close to home.

I want to thank our hardworking frontline health staff, who have ensured that 100% of the most serious presentations were seen within two minutes.

Quotes attributable to Wide Bay HHS Chief Executive, Debbie Carroll:

“I want to thank our hardworking frontline health staff, who have ensured that 100% of the most serious presentations were seen within two minutes.

“We continue to see increased demand from Category 5 patients, people coming to the ED for repeat prescriptions splinters, and minor injuries, like stubbing a toe.

“While we will never refuse care to patients, we will always prioritise those who are seriously ill or injured in our EDs.”

Background

From 2022 through to April 2023, Queensland Hospital Emergency Departments saw presentations including:

• 36,911 presentations for a UTI
• 28,064 presentations for attention to surgical dresses and stitches
• 11,995 presentations for an ear infection
• 6,662 requests for repeat medication prescriptions
• 3,764 requests for a medical certificate
• 1,056 presentations for an ingrown toenail
• 280 presentations for sunburn
• 79 presentations for hiccups

ENDS