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.
Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS) has again recorded one of the best patient-off-stretcher times in the state with 88 per cent of patients transferred from a stretcher within 30 minutes, an improvement from 82 per cent in the same quarter last year.
Townsville Hospital and Health Service emergency departments had 35,371 attendances from April to June 2023, compared to 33,312 in the previous quarter.
This is a six per cent increase in the number of patients presenting to our emergency departments compared to the previous quarter (January to March 23).
Despite ongoing pressures on our emergency departments, 81 per cent of patients were seen within clinically recommended time frames.
Across all five triage categories, the median wait time for treatment was 12 minutes for patients presenting to Townsville HHS emergency departments.
In the most extreme case from May to July, a Townsville patient waited over seven hours to be seen.
Some longer waits included patients with basic over-the-counter prescriptions, UTIs, and earaches.
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 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."
Quotes attributable to Townsville Hospital and Health Service:
''Despite ongoing pressures on our emergency departments, we are continuing to see improvement in our delivery.
"No patient will be refused care at any of the Townsville HHS hospitals; however, if you are assessed at triage to be a less-urgent category there may be a wait.
"It's a good idea to have repeat prescriptions on hand for important medications in case you run out over a weekend or after hours."
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
