Designed by ACEM and published via the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) quarterly release, HAT goes beyond average emergency department (ED) wait times to show what happens after emergency care is complete. It separates patients who go home from those who need a hospital bed, revealing where the most excessive delays actually occur – in the wait for an inpatient bed.
ACEM NSW Branch Chair Dr Rachael Gill said the NSW Government’s commitment to transparency had given clinicians, governments and the public a clearer picture of where the health system is and isn’t working. The findings land as ACEM’s latest Sustainable Workforce Survey identifies overcrowding and bed block as the leading drivers of burnout among emergency physicians.
“Publishing this data is an important step, and the NSW Government deserves credit for its commitment over the past 12 months. Measuring the extent of a problem is essential if you want to repair it, and being transparent about systemic shortcomings is essential in improving care,” she said.
Dr Gill said the 12-month dataset offered new insight into how the system is tracking by allowing for year-on-year comparison for the first time.
"It's good to see fewer people with less serious conditions coming through emergency departments, which suggests investment in community-based care is beginning to make a difference. But for those who are critically ill and need a hospital bed, the picture is far more troubling. People who are seriously unwell are waiting far too long in emergency departments," Dr Gill said.
“When those beds and services aren't available, patients have nowhere to go, and the emergency department bears the weight of a system under pressure. The challenge is not in the ED itself, but in what should come next: a hospital bed, a mental health service, an aged care placement, an NDIS support.
“While it can be difficult reading at times, we encourage the government to continue reporting this data. This kind of transparency will make a huge contribution to identifying and rectifying the issues.”
Dr Gill said ACEM urged governments across the country to follow NSW’s lead and make HAT reporting an integral part of public accountability.
“HAT highlights where the blockages are, giving health systems the information they need to re-direct resources to address the issues. NSW has led the way. Now other states and territories need to step up and match it,” Dr Gill said.
ACEM will continue to work with governments across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to improve emergency care access and achieve fairer, safer and better-functioning healthcare systems.
Background:
ACEM is the peak body for emergency medicine in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, responsible for training emergency physicians and advancement of professional standards. www.acem.org.au
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