ACEM notes NSW election result, calls for clinical engagement

Acknowledging the Coalition’s win in Saturday’s NSW election, the peak body for emergency medicine in Australia and New Zealand has called for clinical engagement with frontline emergency department staff.

Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) President Dr Simon Judkins said: “ACEM looks forward to working with the returned Berejiklian government to ensure the community has ongoing access to an accessible, high quality and safe health system.”

Before the election, ACEM spoke out about serious workforce issues and patients having to stay longer in the emergency department because there aren’t inpatient beds.

NSW Faculty Chair Dr Chris Trethewy said: “Emergency department overcrowding and access block are significant issues. More needs to be done to reduce patient risk of poorer outcomes, and to support emergency physicians by providing safe workplaces that value clinical expertise in decision making outcomes.

“Emergency physicians must be engaged and empowered, along with other healthcare workers, to lead quality care improvement initiatives across the health system.

“ACEM is keen to work with the government, hospital leadership and health department executives to develop the actions to improve patient outcomes.”

With more than 40 emergency departments in NSW accredited to provide the College’s training program, ACEM has more than 600 Fellows – specialist emergency medicine doctors – providing critical care across the state.

Background

ACEM is the peak body for emergency medicine in Australia and New Zealand, responsible for training emergency physicians and advancement of professional standards. www.acem.org.au

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