Earlier this year, ACEM identified the unacceptable wait times of patients with acute mental and behavioural conditions in emergency departments, and called for a new approach to mental health care.
ACEM Victoria Faculty Chair Dr Shyaman Menon said: “Emergency department staff are witnesses to the terrible distress and preventable suffering endured by patients who are forced to stay in emergency departments for days, so prioritising the health and safety of the some of the most vulnerable people in our communities is a must.
“We are happy to work with the Department to look at models in improving this.”
Hospital infrastructure
ACEM President Dr Simon Judkins says with Victoria having the highest growth in Australia, investment in hospital infrastructure, which was announced in the budget, is only part of the solution to the state’s healthcare needs.
Dr Judkins said: “Projected population growth will only put an increased demand on an already stretched system.
“We need to address the underlying problems of access block, overcrowding and acute care bed shortages across Victoria, or patients will continue to be at risk.
“We need to ensure that our emergency departments are staffed with appropriate levels of emergency physicians and there is a new focus on how we staff our inpatient teams with senior staff seven days a week.”
Flu season
Dr Judkins noted the $50 million in the budget to fight flu this winter, but said emergency departments should not carry the burden.
“Flu season brings an unprecedented demand which requires a response from all parts of the health system – management planning ahead, an increase in inpatient beds and an appropriate number of staff to ensure patients are appropriately discharged when they have been adequately assessed and cared for, and not before,” Dr Judkins said.
Hospital digital records system
Dr Menon said ACEM believes eHealth systems must be appropriately integrated into existing hospital information technology systems, in order to achieve real value for patients and physicians.
Contact
Andre Khoury
ACEM Public Affairs Manager
03 8679 8813
0498 068 023
[email protected]