The latest Bureau of Health Information (BHI) Health Quarterly results show the NSW health system remains resilient in the face of unprecedented pressure.
There were 795,817 emergency department (ED) attendances in the April to June quarter, up 3.3 per cent from the same quarter last year and only marginally lower (1.8 per cent) than the record-breaking January to March 2024 quarter.
The NSW Government remains focused on expanding alternative care pathways outside of the hospital.
In 2023-24 more than 235,000 people who were assessed by HealthDirect received advice or referral to a health service avoiding a trip to the ED.
Despite significant pressure, many EDs have exhibited incredible resilience and even significant improvements in key performance indicators, including
- Canterbury Hospital which saw an 18.9 per cent increase in the proportion of patients treated on time;
- Moree Hospital which saw a 14.8 per cent increase in the proportion of patients treated on time; and
- Liverpool Hospital which saw a 15.3 per cent improvement in the proportion of patients transferred from paramedics to ED staff.
The NSW Government’s comprehensive strategy to relieve pressure on EDs includes creating pathways to care outside of the hospital as well as improving patient flow inside the hospital, through:
- $100 million for urgent care services and $171.4 million for three new virtual care services to divert hundreds of thousands of presentations from EDs;
- Allowing pharmacists to provide consultations for low complexity conditions, relieving pressure on GPs; and
- Improving patient flow within the hospital with $70 million for short stay units; $31.4 million for hospital in the home; and $53.9 million to deploy 86 patient flow officers in hospitals across the state.
The Minns Labor Government has also introduced the $189 million Bulk-Billing Support Initiative which will help stem declining bulk-billing rates, and foster greater access to GPs, and in turn, relieve pressure on our busy hospitals.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
“We are so grateful for the hard work of our dedicated hospital staff who are confronted with record demand.
“While our EDs grapple with unprecedented pressure, I’m really encouraged by the work being undertaken in creating alternative pathways to care outside of the hospital.
“This is almost a quarter of a million people who may have otherwise ended up a long time in a busy ED.
“We are undertaking a comprehensive and world leading range of measures to relieve our busy and stretched emergency departments.”
