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.
Throughout the April to June 2023 quarter, the Gold Coast Health emergency departments saw 46,816 presentations, and a further 15,500 in the month of July.
The acuity of presentations increased with 19 per cent more life-threatening category 1 presentations, and a 5 per cent jump in category 2 patients, compared to the same quarter last year.
The five longest emergency department wait times across this time were 9.5 hours, 8.15 hours, 7.45 hours, 7.40 hours, and 7.35 hours.
However, the median wait time for treatment across all categories of patients was just 12 minutes in the June 2023 quarter.
All 615 Category 1 patients – the most urgent cases – were seen by a clinician within two minutes of arriving at Gold Coast emergency departments, while 73 per cent of all cases were seen within clinically recommended times, during the June 2023 quarter.
GCUH continues to be one of the busiest emergency departments in Australia, with many people turning up with ailments or injuries that could be treated more appropriately by a GP or pharmacist.
Less urgent presentations place unnecessary pressure on the system.
Some of these presentations included nausea, sprains, limb and joint pain, minor cuts and the stiches removal, who didn’t need to attend an emergency department.
In the most extreme case from May to July, a Gold Coast patient waited over nine hours to be seen.
In the first six months of 2023 we had 1,735 category 5 patients come to our emergency departments seeking treatment, many of whom could have sought their less-urgent treatment elsewhere.
The new Tugun Satellite Hospital is nearing practical completion and is expected to ease pressure on Gold Coast emergency departments.
The Minor Injury and Illness Clinic will be the first service to open in the Satellite Hospital from mid-November 2023, providing urgent walk-in care for common injuries and illnesses.
If you are unsure if you should attend the ED, call 13 HEALTH or your GP for advice.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman:
“Our hospital emergency departments are facing unprecedented demand, with more ED presentations than ever before.
“I want to thank our hardworking frontline health staff, who have ensured that 100% of the most serious presentations were seen within two minutes, despite this demand.
“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 underinvestment 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.”
Quotes attributable to GCHHS Chief Executive Ron Calvert:
“Most patients waiting to be seen for extended periods throughout May to July were low acuity patients who arrived at peak times and when demand was high during the winter Influenza season.
“People with non-urgent conditions may find themselves waiting extended periods of time in Emergency Department waiting rooms when they could be treated faster at a GP clinic.
“Despite a significant increase in demand, no patient is ever refused care at any of our hospitals, however we do prioritise our emergency departments for seriously ill and injured patients.”
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
