ACEM’s State of Emergency 2024: Regional, Rural and Remote (SOE24) found that while the demand for emergency care per head of population in RRR areas is 27% higher than in cities, the available EM specialist workforce is 22% lower.
The report gathers and carefully analyses accurate data from each of Australia’s states and territories across 2021 and 2022, providing solid evidence that the country’s emergency departments (EDs) have never been in a worse state.
SOE24 also presents practical, attainable recommendations to solve the country’s emergency healthcare crisis and provide a better standard of public healthcare for all.
“The State of Emergency 2024: Regional, Rural and Remote report is irrefutable proof of what ACEM and healthcare workers across the system have been warning about for a long time: the health system in Australia has never been in a worse state,” Alice Springs-based ACEM President Dr Stephen Gourley said.
“Not only does the data show it is bad everywhere, but it shows that it is even worse in rural, regional and remote areas.
“SOE24 showed us that it is a myth that ‘access block is only in the cities’. The proportion of admitted patients who spent longer than eight hours in regional, rural and remote EDs was comparable to those presenting to EDs in the cities, at 31% – far exceeding the maximum 10% figure recommended by ACEM.”
According to the data:
- In 2021-22, there were 8.8 million emergency department (ED) presentations in Australia - the equal-highest number of annual presentations ever recorded
- More than half (51%) of RRR EDs employ locum (temporary) EM specialists compared to just 12% of EDs in cities
- A significant number of EDs are reporting EM specialist vacancies right across the country, with EDs in RRR areas harder hit (78%) than in cities (47%)
- The ratio of EM specialist trainees to patients was much lower in regional and remote areas (1: 8396) than in cities (1: 4464).
- The data shows that systemic reform of the EM workforce across Australia will require commitment, coordination and collaboration to improve patient experiences of ED care, which is the gateway for many patients to the wider healthcare system.
SOE24 reveals that the fundamental issues causing Australia’s emergency medicine crisis - access block, delayed admissions and decreasing numbers of available public hospital beds in Australia (when accounting for population growth) - are as common in RRR areas as it is the cities.
However, the College is encouraged by the hard work being done by clinicians, health services and governments to address this issue. For example, since 2021-22 the implementation of ACEM's Hospital Access Targets in the ACT has improved flow through the ED leading to a reduction in ED length of stay. ACEM has developed a range of evidence-based solutions to access block and is committed to working with governments, hospitals and health systems to find solutions to access block.
SOE24 also includes testimonials and quotes from emergency medicine clinicians who live and work in regional, rural and remote communities across Australia. These specialists discuss the rewards, opportunities and stark challenges facing them and their colleagues in their daily mission to provide high quality emergency care to all.
“This report will inform and guide us, as we work collaboratively with governments and other health system stakeholders, to improve access to emergency healthcare in RRR areas, to support staff to enjoy sustainable, safe and enjoyable careers, and create an equitable health future for everyone – wherever they live,” Dr Gourley said.
State of Emergency 2024: Regional, Rural and Remote is available to read here.
Background:
ACEM is the peak body for emergency medicine in Australia and New Zealand, responsible for training emergency physicians and advancement of professional standards. www.acem.org.au
Media Contact:
Nick Buchan, Media Advisor, [email protected] +61 481 918 488