ACEM NSW Branch Chair Dr Rachael Gill joined NSW Health Minister Ryan Park at Blacktown Hospital today to discuss how increasing capacity across the health system can improve patient flow and safety.
“Seeing progress on additional inpatient beds is important for our frontline teams and for the patients who rely on these hospitals every day,” Dr Gill said.
“From an emergency department perspective, inpatient capacity is one of the most critical factors in reducing overcrowding and long waits.”
Dr Gill said bed block, where patients remain in emergency departments because no ward beds are available, is one of the biggest risks to patient safety.
“A large - and growing - proportion of this pressure comes from older patients who are medically ready to leave hospital but cannot be discharged because the right aged care support is not available,” she said.
“With Australia’s ageing population, strengthening aged care will be a critical lever to free up beds, improve patient flow and ensure older Australians receive care in the most appropriate setting.”
“ACEM supports efforts by governments at all levels to increase aged care capacity so older Australians can receive the care they need in the most appropriate setting.”
Dr Gill also acknowledged NSW’s leadership in using data to better understand and manage
hospital pressures.
“ACEM developed the Hospital Access Targets (HAT) framework to better capture the complexity of patient journeys through emergency departments and hospitals,” she said.
“NSW was the first jurisdiction to make this data public, and its ongoing quarterly reporting through the Bureau of Health Information sets an important benchmark for transparency. High- quality public data helps identify where bottlenecks occur and how best to fix them, and we would welcome similar public reporting across other states and territories.”
Dr Gill said ACEM looks forward to continuing to work constructively with the NSW Government to improve patient flow and patient safety.
“Today’s update on additional beds is a positive sign. Ongoing progress on hospital capacity, alongside strong investment in aged care, will be essential to building a more sustainable health system for the future.”
“The best outcomes for patients come from well-coordinated care across the system, including primary and community care, aged care, disability services and mental health services. Investing in each of these areas reduces pressure on emergency departments and helps ensure patients receive the right care sooner.”
Background:
The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (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
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