The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM; the College) acknowledges the commitment from the Western Australian Government for additional beds and staffing at the Perth Children’s Hospital.
ACEM Western Australia Faculty Chair Dr Peter Allely said emergency clinicians have been raising concerns about significant systemic pressures and patient safety for some time now, and it is hoped the commitments will help alleviate some of the pressures facing the hospital and its emergency department.
“This commitment is welcome, and these new measures should be implemented as soon as possible,” said Dr Allely.
“It is important to also note that significant pressures continue to be faced in emergency departments across the state, and wider commitments to resolve resourcing and systemic issues leading to dangerous emergency department bottlenecks state-wide are also needed.
“We would like to see the same expansion of resources committed to EDs and hospitals across the state. A whole of healthcare system approach is required to improve our entire healthcare system for all Western Australians.”
ACEM President Dr John Bonning re-emphasised that the College is eager to see greater co-operation and coordination between state and federal jurisdictions to address dangerous systemic issues leading to patient safety risks across the state and country.
Additional resourcing and staffing is welcome and part of the solution, but we must also see commitments to addressing and fixing, widespread systemic issues leading to dangerous delays in admitting patients from emergency departments to more definitive care, which also directly causes delays to initially assess patients due to overcrowded EDs; seen recently with tragic consequences.
“Governments need to ensure the highest and safest possible standard of care is available to the community, and the College is eager to work with all governments to find solutions to the widespread systemic issues being experienced across the state and country.”
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