The State Government says despite extremely long waiting times for some, the most critical patients are still being seen on time on the Darling Downs.
However, less serious patients are being reminded that accessing treatment from more appropriate sources – such as GPs, pharmacies, Satellite Hospitals, or Urgent Care Clinics – will help keep emergency departments available for emergencies.
All 264 Category 1 (Australian Triage Scale) patients were seen by a clinician within two minutes of arriving at Darling Downs hospital emergency departments.
In the first six months of 2023, 16,868 category 5 (the lowest category) patients went to Darling Downs emergency departments seeking treatment.
Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman said those presenting needed to consider the seriousness of their condition, and whether they could have their condition treated outside of emergency departments (EDs).
“Last financial year, Queensland EDs saw over 100 presentations every single day for a UTI,” she said.
“These are not the kinds of emergency conditions our EDs are designed to treat.
“We know that we have had a decade of underinvestment in GPs and primary care, which is meaning more people are arriving at our EDs.”
In the most extreme case cited by the Opposition from May to July, a Toowoomba Hospital patient waited over eleven hours to be seen.
However, during the June quarter, 47,766 people presented to Darling Downs Health emergency departments, which is an 8 percent increase compared to the same time last year.
Despite the increased demand with an additional 3,724 presentations, the median wait time across all five categories was only 18 minutes.
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said that Queenslanders were being judged by the Government.
“In a desperate attempt to hide her failings, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman is blaming patients for using hospitals,” she said.
“Queensland Health is in crisis.
“Our frontline staff are over-worked and under-resourced.” Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Annette Scott said less-urgent category 5 conditions could be treated at urgent care clinics and virtual appointments.
“No patient will be refused care at any of our hospitals, however our EDs will always be prioritised for the seriously ill and injured patients,” she said.
If you are unsure whether the emergency department is the best option for you, call your GP or 13 HEALTH for advice.
Visit the Darling Downs Health website darlingdowns.health.qld.gov.au for more information.
This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 5 October 2023.
