As we age, health inevitably becomes a more central part of our lives, and we all depend on the reliability of our healthcare system.

However, a recent update raised alarm bells for many, particularly for those who may require more frequent medical attention.

New South Wales (NSW) health reports stated that the state's public hospitals are facing an unprecedented crisis, with emergency departments and ambulance services stretched to their limits.

During the first quarter of the year, about 810,201 people attended NSW emergency departments, a significant increase of over five per cent compared to last year.

The Australian Medical Association described this surge in visits as a 'catastrophe waiting to happen' and called for substantial investment to rectify the system.

Hospitals saw a surge of patients in the Emergency Department over the past few months, stressing healthcare professionals. Image Credit: Pexels/Pixabay

The Bureau of Health Information, which began reporting in 2010, recorded a sobering attendance at emergency departments.

Only two-thirds of patients had their treatments start on time, and about 55.9 per cent left within the targeted four-hour period, setting a new record low for patient turnover.

The situation is dire—one out of 10 people spend nearly 11 hours in emergency departments.

More than 74,000 patients were left without complete treatment or without being treated at all, an increase of almost 17 per cent from the previous year.

Health Minister Ryan Park acknowledged the pressure on public hospitals, attributing it to past underfunding.

'We are undertaking the structural reforms to our health system to ensure our community receives the care they need and deserve—by delivering the single largest boost to our workforce in the history of our health system and creating more pathways to treatment and care outside the hospital,' Park shared.

Additional urgent-care services were introduced in July last year to divert those with mild conditions away from emergency departments to alleviate some of the pressure.

Furthermore, there's a call for expanding the 'hospital in the home' clinical model, which allows patients to receive care for common conditions, such as infections, in the comfort of their own homes.

'The clear potential for expanding this model of care presents an opportunity for patients, as well as NSW health services, to benefit from increased hospital bed capacity,' Bureau of Health Information Chief Executive Diane Watson shared.

Despite these efforts, public hospital admissions have risen to 481,335 patients, 2.7 per cent higher than last year.

Ambulance responses also hit a record high, with over 383,341 call-outs, including a 57 per cent increase in the highest-priority cases.

While the median response time remains within an acceptable benchmark, demand remains a cause for concern.

Elective surgeries have declined, dropping by more than six percent to 51,149.

However, those that are being performed are increasingly done on time, suggesting some efficiency gains amidst the chaos.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association voiced concerns about the impact on patients and workers.

'This reflects the sheer volume of patients presenting to public hospitals, coupled with bed blocks, and the challenging conditions our members work in, often while chronically understaffed,' General Secretary Shaye Candish said.

Compounding the issue is the decline in the number of general practitioners in NSW, which has dropped by more than 500 full-time equivalent GPs within a year.

This decrease in primary care availability may drive more people to seek help in emergency departments, further exacerbating the problem.

In recent news, hospitals also warned over a surge of cases caused by a triple-threat of viruses: flu, COVID-19, and the RSV.

These developments are particularly troubling for our community.

Many people rely on timely and effective healthcare, and the thought of our local hospitals being unable to cope is deeply concerning.

A multifaceted approach can address the crisis, including investment in hospital infrastructure, workforce expansion, and innovative care models like 'hospital in the home'.

As we navigate these challenging times, it's more important than ever to stay informed about the state of our healthcare system and advocate for the necessary changes to ensure we can all receive the care we deserve.

Key Takeaways

• NSW emergency departments have seen a record high in visits, with over 810,000 people attending from January to March, marking an increase from the previous year.
• The Australian Medical Association has labelled the situation a 'catastrophe waiting to happen,' highlighting the need for significant investment to rectify the strain on the system.
• More than 74,000 patients left emergency departments without complete treatment or any treatment, and less than 56 per cent left within the targeted four-hour period.
• Ambulance call-outs have also risen to a record 383,341 responses, while public hospital admissions have increased slightly, suggesting a broader issue of strain on healthcare services in NSW.

Have you or a loved one experienced long wait times or other issues at your local hospital? Please share your stories with us in the comments below.

 

[Colette 3799]

My daughter who is a severe asthmatic and myself have spent many nights in casuality.
Usually we don't wait long but the last time ( 8 weeks ago) absolutely no one was being called in and the nurses were treating people in the waiting room or triage room then sending them back out into the waiting room.

One lady was doubled over in pain and looked really sick. After a couple of hours the nurse came out with an injection and gave it to her and said hopefully it would help but 30 min later she was still the same.

The same with my daughter the nurse came out every 20 min , gave my daughter 12 puffs of ventolin through the spacer and 8 of atrovent. My daughter needed prednisone and we would have already started it but she was already on along dose of low 5mg prednisone and we didn't know if to take 55mg or 50mg.

After 5 hours my daughter said she needed to go home, she said she couldn't sit anymore and needed to sleep.

We went home, started a 50 mg course of prednisone and kept on doing 12 puffs of ventolin. 8 of atrovent. Then went at 10 am to our doctor, who was shocked by what we told her.

When we left the hospital at 3am that Lady was still doubled over in pain. It sounded like gallstones.

It’s happening in the UK too. My 96 yo mother in law had a fall in the care home. My brother in law who lives close by was there in moments. The staff wouldn‘t get her off the floor as they didn’t know if she had injuries. Three hours she was there on the ground waiting for the ambulance. Then another few hours in the ambulance, waiting to go into the hospital. She was eventually seen by a dr and cleared of injury. By this time it was around 8pm and she would have had to wait for another ambulance to get back to the care home. My brother in law ended up taking her home in a taxi. I recon there must be staff shortage’s everywhere

 

[Colette 3799]

The mint spends millions of dollars producing coins with the King face on them despite cash is on its way out. Albo wastes millions on useless campaigns that nobody wants. Gives himself a pay increase for ruining the country, spends money on his international holiday but the things like medical and housing, the cost of living crisis and increase of teen crime are overlooked. Labor voters are just as much at fault as the Prime Wanker Albo himself. When will people learn ?

What's the alternative? Dutton?? I damn well hope he never gets in, he’s more of a selfish moron than Morrison. I can’t think of a politician that is not in the job for their own personal gain. It’s the way it is and always has been.

 

[Singomate]

Instead of investing taxpayers money on this amongst many other things of a like manner. They seem to move a lot quicker when comes to any remuneration of political pay scales

Let's not worry about Health, Let's spend $600 million on new Rugby League Club in a Country who is Raking millions off our good friends People of China ,let P NG spend their own .

 

[Mary_Again]

I had to attend the local emergency ward a few times with my aged father (over 90yrs). Each time we had to wait at least 12 hours to see a doctor, even when my father had a (major) stroke and was eventually admitted to hospital. Father was given a bed to lie in, I had to sit in an uncomfortable plastic chair ... for over 12 hours.

I had to stay with father on these visits as his hearing was poor and his sight was failing. The stroke also damaged his short term memory. I believe a second stroke (while at hospital out of my care) impacted his speech. Doctors don't often (rarely!) allow for these failings as when I had to leave my father in their care overnight, he was rarely able to tell me anything about his treatment, current or future. Trying to get the information myself was extremely difficult. One time I was told to wait for a nurse to come in ... for over four hours ... eventually I had to return to the desk and demand the information, which was given extremely reluctantly.

In the beginning, I was carer for both parents. I had to enlist the aid of my sister to sit with father while I ran back and forth between the house to attend to my mother, then back to the hospital to catch up on any progress with father. My sister eventually had to leave as she had her own family to look after and I was left doing the best I could to look after both parents.

Eventually, mother passed on. She had been admitted to a nursing home, which failed to stop her falling out of bed and as a result she fell on the floor one night and was found there early the next day. She died later that day.

The fact we have to wait hours to get treatment is one issue, but carers are treated like they don't matter. No allowance was made for my needs either at the hospital or time given for me to get equipment in to look after my father. They just expected me to cope. Even my doctor at the time was unsympathetic. I tripped over a loose insect trap at the bottom of the back door, fell down some cement steps and broke my arm. I tried to get a water resistant cast (available in some states for adults, but not in SA) because I had to care for my father and had no-one to help me put on a waterproof cover. She (my GP) said "Everyone copes". I changed GPs!

I have an autoimmune disease, which impacts on where I sleep, what I eat and on my energy levels. I also have Raynauds syndrome and pulmonary fibrosis. Fortunately, my condition has not progressed to the point of incapacitation and I was able to cope. However, as a carer one is not allowed to have any health issues of their own, they are, in my experience, meant to blend in with the background and in many instances are just considered an unavoidable nuisance.

My father died from lack of proper care at the hands of a nursing home, or rather two. The first allowed him to get injured. the second left him all day in a room without visitors or sufficient support. He was confined to a bed too short for him, cramped and isolated, unable to even call for assistance.

I dread to think what lies ahead. My rheumatologists want me to go on mycophenolate, but the side effects are severe and the options available to me are limited. In my opinion those living alone, unless they are financially (very) well off, would not have the resources to deal with such medications - even some day-to-day activities would no longer be possible - like changing a light bulb (due to possible dizzy spells from the medication). It doesn't pay to get sick. Doctors are fine with prescribing treatments, but don't consider the impact they have on those living without support.

I hope when I get sick, I get very sick very fast and avoid hospital entirely.
A quick death is the best way to go! I have no confidence in our current health system.

 

[David567]

Thanks goodness the Liberal State Government in Tasmania has promised the AFL $750 000 000 of taxpayers' money for a new footie stadium on public recreational land when there are two suitable already in Tasmania. And that a local urban Council has promised us a $70 000 000 ( yes $70 000 000, just checked the web-site) AFL training centre on additional recreational public land in the local city centre when there is already available a suitable "world-class" sports oval nearby.

Something to die for, to use an Australian idiom.

Meanwhile one principal hospital in the central part of the State appears to be running on locum doctors; it costs $210 for a 20-minute consultation at the local medical centre; and Hobart's major (sorry ONLY public hospital in the south of the State) public hospital runs on the edge of chaos with 6-hour waiting times in the ED triage room.

And just don't have a heart attack on Hobart's eastern shore between 8am and 9am and between 4.30pm and 6pm as the ambulance service will have to fight its way through the commuter jam of SUVs to get to you. Still, our Australian suburban sprawl is also something to die for, is it not?

Public health in Australia; who cares? It's the "footie" , mate.

You hit the nail on the head. I another sports oval is something to die for. We need a new oval for our youngsters to have knife fights in a safe area. I think that's seems to be the new sport of 2020's. I'm dyeing to find out how it turns out.

 

[June E]

Lack of doctors and nurses and over population is the problem here.

I agree ! These stupid governments keep bringing in more and more people when we don’t have the infrastructure for them ! Hospitals schools housing jobs !!
It should be stopped until all Australians have homes to live in and hospitals should be taking back staff they let go when people didn’t want the covid shots. We need decent politicians before we become a third world country !!!

 

[June E]

It’s happening in the UK too. My 96 yo mother in law had a fall in the care home. My brother in law who lives close by was there in moments. The staff wouldn‘t get her off the floor as they didn’t know if she had injuries. Three hours she was there on the ground waiting for the ambulance. Then another few hours in the ambulance, waiting to go into the hospital. She was eventually seen by a dr and cleared of injury. By this time it was around 8pm and she would have had to wait for another ambulance to get back to the care home. My brother in law ended up taking her home in a taxi. I recon there must be staff shortage’s everywhere

And I bet there’s not much being done to train more staff for hospitals and care homes here or there ! It’s disgraceful. Plenty of money available for sports an Olympics etc.

 

[Colette 3799]

And I bet there’s not much being done to train more staff for hospitals and care homes here or there ! It’s disgraceful. Plenty of money available for sports an Olympics etc.

Probably not. My brother in law said the home is being run by a pack of kids.

 

[GillyH]

A friend of ours who is 62 had a heart attack Sunday week ago. He was taken to Canterbury Hospital. Monday morning he was transferred to Concord hospital. An angiogram was performed and they found 3 or 4 blocked arteries . The confirmed he needed a triple by pass . They said he would be transferred to RPA but surgery would be 7 to 10 days away. That they had him on medication to try and stop another heart attack.
When hus family asked why surgery couldn't happen sooner they were told it could have happened the next day if he was in a medical fund.

He had surgery on Tuesday ( 9 days later)

thats why we need to have private funding, you wait other wise. 9 days is better than being on a waiting list.

 

[Cathyann]

i have private insurance.

Me too