The Rockliff Liberal Government is doing what matters by introducing new measures across Tasmania’s hospitals to enhance patient flow and free up paramedics to get back on the road faster.
“Our new direct-to-waiting-room pathway now operating in our hospitals will help ease pressure on our EDs,” said the Minister for Health, Guy Barnett.
“This will significantly help with the challenges of transfer of care delays.”
The new pathway will allow Ambulance Tasmania paramedics to safely move patients with minor injuries and illness directly to the waiting room of an emergency department, freeing up paramedics to respond to emergencies in the community.
It has been introduced following recommendations from the Interim Action Plan from the Independent Review of Tasmania’s Major Hospital Emergency Departments.
Minister for Health, Guy Barnett, said that conditions that could be suitable for patients to be directly transferred to the waiting room include minor lacerations, sprains and minor fractures, minor rashes or bites, earache, headache, and minor gastrointestinal symptoms.
“Paramedics will provide a full written patient care record for all patients who are directly transferred to ED waiting rooms,” Minister Barnett said.
“Importantly, patients who urgently need a bed will continue to receive one.
“The development of the pathway has involved extensive consultation with the ED review panel and other key stakeholders, including front-line clinicians from Ambulance Tasmania and Emergency Departments.
“This pathway is one of a number of initiatives that the Tasmanian Liberal Government is implementing to reduce transfer of care delays and to ensure paramedics can respond to time-critical emergencies, ensuring Tasmanians can access the right healthcare, at the right place, at the right time.
“This review is about making meaningful and appropriate changes to improve patient flow and the transfer of care across our hospital system.”
