Nurses working at emergency departments (ED) across the state are continuing to feel the effects of increased presentations and very unwell people coming through their doors, with the latest health snapshot painting a worrying picture of NSW public hospitals.
The latest Bureau of Health Information (BHI) Healthcare Quarterly report shows there were almost 800,000 ED attendances from January to March, while the number of acutely unwell patients rose compared to the same time last year.
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) General Secretary, Michael Whaites, said the volume of patients needing resuscitation, emergency or urgent care in emergency departments, depicted a system under significant pressure.
‘Triage category 1, 2 and 3 all saw increases during January to March, with urgent cases increasing by almost 10,000 during the quarter,’ said Mr Whaites.
‘Concerningly, the average time patients spent in the ED also climbed, with those treated and admitted to hospital or transferred to another hospital waiting an additional 50 minutes, to 9 hours and 4 minutes.
‘A high volume of patients coupled with higher acuity and more complex cases is creating the perfect storm in our EDs. The strain being placed on the health system has a direct impact on nurses’ workloads and patient health outcomes.
‘With the colder weather upon us and a spike in winter illnesses expected, the state government must continue to adequately invest in its public health workforce to ensure it has the resources to cope.
‘Around 80 emergency departments in NSW have begun recruiting for nurse-to-patient ratios, with medical and surgical wards next in line to receive safe staffing levels. We must see funding in the upcoming state budget for the continuation of the ratios rollout in all wards and units. This crucial staffing reform will help to rebuild the nursing and midwifery workforce.’
Mixed result
NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary, Katrina Bough, said while the number of elective surgeries performed had increased, more patients were being admitted for overnight hospital stays.
‘It’s clear our metropolitan and regional facilities are struggling to cope with a spike in patients being admitted into hospital, with the average length of stay for overnight non-acute care climbing to 20 days, up almost 3 days which is the highest on record,’ said Ms Bough.
‘We know our hospitals are experiencing extreme bed block due to elderly patients waiting for residential aged care places, which has significant flow on effects for people waiting for treatment and to be discharged.
‘On a positive note, it’s pleasing to see more elective surgeries have been performed on time and the waiting list has fallen during the quarter compared to the same period last year.’
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