Canberra GPs urged to reconsider sending patients to the emergency department
6 years, 9 months ago

Canberra GPs urged to reconsider sending patients to the emergency department

ABC  

Canberra GPs have been asked to think twice before referring their patients to the Canberra Hospital emergency department as it manages "very high levels of service demand". "Please note that Canberra Hospital and Health Services are currently experiencing very high levels of service demand and patient acuity," the letter, titled Important Message from Canberra Hospital, read. "ACT Health works closely with local GPs to ensure that individuals and families are aware of all the available health care options for non-urgent medical issues," the spokeswoman said. On Tuesday, ACT Health said Canberra Hospital and Health Services would "experience an increase in the volume and acuity of patients" over the next few months and urged the community to utilise other services available for "non-life or limb-threatening injuries/illnesses".

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History of this topic

WA has Australia's worst wait times for urgent presentations to public hospital emergency departments, report finds
1 month, 3 weeks ago

WA has Australia's worst wait times for urgent presentations to public hospital emergency departments, report finds

ABC  

West Australians in need of urgent care at emergency departments are experiencing the worst wait times in the country, a report has found. The Productivity Commission's report on government health services showed just 32 per cent of patients in need of urgent care were seen on time when presenting at WA public hospitals in 2023-24. The report found just 32 …

Millions of dollars in funding announced as Canberra's hospitals experience 'significant increased pressure'
1 month, 4 weeks ago

Millions of dollars in funding announced as Canberra's hospitals experience 'significant increased pressure'

ABC  

Canberra's hospitals are experiencing "significant increased pressure," prompting the ACT government to announce it will inject a further $227.3 million into the system to meet demand. "We certainly have seen significant increased pressure on the health system, and we're not alone in that," Ms Stephen-Smith said. "What we have also said across all directorates, including the Health Directorate and of …

Despite improvements, Canberra Health Services failed all but one of its emergency department wait-time targets
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Despite improvements, Canberra Health Services failed all but one of its emergency department wait-time targets

ABC  

The average time patients spent being treated in ACT emergency departments has improved in the past financial year, new data shows, but Canberra Health Services still failed to meet all but one of its emergency wait-time targets. "Previously, we've seen the patient sitting in the waiting room, we've seen the patient sitting in our ED, and now we're seeing them …

Demand for Canberra's health system is outpacing supply, forcing more patients to travel interstate for treatment
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Demand for Canberra's health system is outpacing supply, forcing more patients to travel interstate for treatment

ABC  

Femke Matthews lives just 10 minutes from Canberra's biggest hospital, so it was a shock to learn it would take a three-hour drive to access the medical treatment needed to save her daughter. "I didn't expect that would be our hub, that we wouldn't be able to get the proper treatment that we needed for that here in Canberra, the …

Help us investigate Australia's health system
2 years ago

Help us investigate Australia's health system

ABC  

We know the Australian health system has been under strain, and not just because of COVID. For years, we've reported on chronic staffing shortages that have left burnt-out workers trying to carry a bigger load. We know there are long delays for elective surgery, emergency department delays and chronic ambulance ramping at hospitals. Across Australia, GPs are withdrawing bulk-billing services …

Rural GP tells SA government inquiry of long delays transferring patients to hospital
2 years, 1 month ago

Rural GP tells SA government inquiry of long delays transferring patients to hospital

ABC  

A rural GP has outlined the struggle doctors are having transferring regional patients to Adelaide hospitals, in a written submission to the South Australian parliament. Key points: Rural patients have to wait hours or even days before being transferred to a hospital in Adelaide Transfer delays are caused by a lack of hospital beds in the city Life-threatening emergencies are …

Canberrans waiting to see specialists or undergo surgery through public health system face lengthy delays
2 years, 2 months ago

Canberrans waiting to see specialists or undergo surgery through public health system face lengthy delays

ABC  

Under Canberra Health Services guidelines, Rohan Goyne should have been able to meet with a specialist to discuss his need for surgery within 90 days. As a "Category 2" patient he was meant to be seen within three months, but after going on a waiting list in August 2021, he's still waiting. "These figures paint a very bleak picture for …

Canberra Hospital patients set to be moved to private hospitals, aged care facilities as COVID-19 cases surge
2 years, 8 months ago

Canberra Hospital patients set to be moved to private hospitals, aged care facilities as COVID-19 cases surge

ABC  

Some patients currently at the Canberra Hospital are set to be moved to private hospitals or aged care facilities, as the pressure on the territory's main hospital continues to rise. Key points: Canberra Health Services CEO Cathie O'Neill says Canberra Hospital is running out of beds Canberra Health Services CEO Cathie O'Neill says Canberra Hospital is running out of beds …

Canberra emergency department wait times are the worst in the country, but the Health Minister says she'll fix it in nine months
4 years, 1 month ago

Canberra emergency department wait times are the worst in the country, but the Health Minister says she'll fix it in nine months

ABC  

It took five hours for Kathryn Harradine's six-month-old son Andy to be treated for a lung infection at Canberra Hospital's emergency department. Key points: The ACT Health Minister wants 70 per cent of ED patients to be seen on time by October A doctor is being trialled at ED triage points in a bid to improve patient flow Elective surgery …

Thousands of Canberra's young people on specialist waiting lists, travelling interstate as Opposition calls for better healthcare
4 years, 7 months ago

Thousands of Canberra's young people on specialist waiting lists, travelling interstate as Opposition calls for better healthcare

ABC  

Jesse is just 12 years old, but she has almost as many specialist doctors as she has had birthdays. Key points: ACT Government figures show 4,000 children and young people are waiting for specialist doctor appointments The Canberra Liberals' health spokeswoman Vicki Dunne said the system was under "immense pressure" Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith says COVID-19 has worsened the situation …

Sydney hospital patients reveal long wait-times, safety concerns at emergency departments
5 years, 11 months ago

Sydney hospital patients reveal long wait-times, safety concerns at emergency departments

ABC  

New data from the Bureau of Health Information has exposed deteriorating waiting times and safety concerns in some of Sydney's worst-performing emergency departments. Key points: 16 per cent of patients said they waited more than two hours for treatment last year Nine of the 10 worst-performing hospitals were in west and south-west Sydney 15 per cent of patients at Fairfield, …

GPs unable to offer appointments for routine conditions, poll finds
6 years, 10 months ago

GPs unable to offer appointments for routine conditions, poll finds

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Lincolnshire GP Dr Martin Tant said they had a four-week wait for appointments, adding: “We …

Adelaide hospital emergency department waiting times fail to meet national target, SA Health figures show
9 years, 11 months ago

Adelaide hospital emergency department waiting times fail to meet national target, SA Health figures show

ABC  

Adelaide's hospital emergency departments are failing to meet a national target to ensure patients leave within four hours, new figures from SA Health show. The hospital emergency departments are absolutely overcrowded, but all hospitals are also over capacity, especially in acute mental health beds and the areas where we need to get people out of hospital quicker. "The hospital emergency …

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