ACEM SA Branch Chair Dr Dan Haustead welcomed Labor’s announcement during the election campaign to build Mental Health Assessment Units next to hospital emergency departments (EDs) to better support people experiencing a mental health or drug and alcohol related crisis.
“The College welcomes health being an election priority, in particular Labor’s commitment for purpose-built mental health assessment units to ease pressure on EDs while improving safety and reducing distress for patients and staff.
“ACEM looks forward to working with government and mental health clinicians on implementation to help ensure patients receive timely, compassionate and effective care when they need it most.”
Ahead of the election, ACEM outlined a number of priorities to reduce ED overcrowding and ramping, and improve hospital flow and safety.
Dr Haustead said that addressing the impacts of ambulance ramping would continue to be a matter of urgency.
“Ambulance ramping continues to be a serious concern, but one that we can tackle by treating it not solely as an ED problem but by addressing underlying pressure in other parts of the health system,” Dr Haustead said.
“Safer EDs depend on patient flow through the whole hospital, access to non-acute services, and having a strong and supported workforce, including in regional and rural areas.
“We invite the government to continue to work with South Australia’s emergency doctors to implement system-wide solutions to help relieve pressures on staff and patients and help build a more sustainable health system that continues to provide high-quality emergency care.”
During the election, SA doctors released a strategic plan encompassing mapping the state's healthcare gaps, planning the medical workforce properly, and cutting red tape that stops doctors working where they're needed.
ACEM is pleased to see a number of significant health commitments made by Labor in expanding emergency care, mental health services, regional healthcare access, workforce development, ambulance services and women’s health.
“ACEM congratulates Premier Peter Malinauskas and Labor on being re-elected to government,” Dr Haustead said.
“The College stands ready to work with the Malinauskas Government to achieve a fairer, safer and better-functioning healthcare system that will improve healthcare for everyone in South Australia.”