“The worst is yet to come”: fears from NSW emergency health services following record high demands

By JUSTIN COOPER

The recent Healthcare Quarterly Review from the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) has reported gradual increased demands for paramedics and emergency departments in NSW.

Released on the 7th of June, the Quarterly review highlighted the increased demand and pressure of the public health system between January and March this year.

During this period the BHI reported 347,720 ambulance responses which is the highest number seen from any quarter since recording started in 2010.

Response times for respective priority responses have improved since last year with 44.1% of P1 patients (emergency responses under lights and sirens) being reached in under 15 minutes, however the percentage of responses are still below pre-pandemic recorded levels.

The overall demand for paramedics is causing longer waiting times and response for patients, with 64.6% of P1A patients (highest priority with life-threatening injuries) meeting the benchmark response for P1A being 10 minutes. Whilst an increase from the year before this percentage remains lower than recorded pre-pandemic.

Fortunately, 98% of patients have recorded satisfactory care with ambulance services, with

BHI Chief Executive Dr Diane Watson saying “patients experienced effective communication, well-coordinated care and kind and caring ambulance staff” have attributed to such rating.

Higher demands have also been reported by emergency departments, with 770,089 attendances recorded being the highest of any first quarter seen since 2010. Furthermore, there has been a decrease in treatment starting in adequate time with only 67.4% of all patient treatments starting on time.

Elective surgeries have also seen increases, with 19,924 semi-urgent surgeries marking a significant increase prior to the pandemic. With over 54,000 surgeries marked in this first quarter, there have been 96,857 people on surgery waiting lists which is above pre-pandemic levels.

The report also recorded only 75% of all elective surgery was performed on time, a decline from the last quarter recorded and is near the record low reported in mid-2022.

The BHI report collected data from over 200 public hospitals and 91 ambulance reporting areas across NSW. BHI aims for the report to “show how demands on the system and

the supply of services [has] changed over time,” with this first quarter recognising higher demands are seemingly expected throughout the year.

Crisis continues for emergency staff

Following the BHI’s report, both the Australian Paramedic Association NSW (APA) and the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) have expressed concerns for each respective department.

APA NSW said the report highlighted that patients are still suffering and that the ‘bed-blocking’ crisis will continue with the upcoming winter season, with Paramedics fearing “the worst is yet to come.”

Chris Kastelan, APA NSW President, expressed that the flu season will continue to overload ambulance systems saying, “We are really concerned for our patients and for ourselves.”

“Standing outside a hospital in a car park in the middle of winter for 5, 6 hours gets very cold. When it rains, some hospitals don’t even have adequate shelter for us or our patients,” said Kastelan.

Similar concerns were brought by NSWNMA, noting the record high number of critically unwell patients from the BHI which has been challenging with low staff to patient ratios.

NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish explained, “It’s widely known ED patients have increasingly had to wait longer for treatment… These figures also show one in 10 of the 181,218 admitted patients were stuck in EDs for over 20 hours.”

“Key to this [addressing increased demand] will be introducing transparent and enforceable safe staffing ratios,” continued Candish. “We will see this through the delivery of the government’s commitment to our members and the people of NSW.”

Both associations expressed the burden which has been placed on staff which has not been addressed by the NSW Government.

“The Minns Government was elected with the promise of supporting health workers, but has failed to implement even one of the recommendations,” said Kastelan.

Candish continued to express the recent 4% pay rise provided to healthcare workers will not encourage nurses or midwives to remain, with the BHI being sufficient evidence for the government to provide “a pay rise that acknowledges” the increased demand and work.

With the BHI report and many concerns from the public health service, it is expected issues will continue to arise with the industry’s demand.