Hunter New England Health is preparing for another busy Christmas with hospitals across the Area gearing up for an increase in the number of patients presenting to emergency departments over the holiday period.

Director of Operations, Acute Networks Michael Di Rienzo said Christmas was traditionally a busy time for emergency departments with an increase in the number of people presenting with serious injuries.

“People tend to be more active during the holiday season and there tends to be more people on the roads which unfortunately can lead to more people getting injured and seeking treatment in the emergency departments,” Mr Di Rienzo said.

“A lot of these patients require emergency surgery which puts increased demand on our operating theatres.

“To help us cope with this increase in demand there will be a gradual reduction in the number of elective surgeries performed in the lead up to Christmas and over the Christmas period. This will ensure that patients who require emergency surgery will receive efficient, high quality care.”

Mr Di Rienzo said the planned down turn of elective surgery also took into account that the Christmas and New Year period is a very popular time for holidays and people choose not to schedule their elective surgery during this time.

“Understandably, most people want to spend Christmas with their family and friends rather than in hospital so they request to wait until after the holiday season to undergo their elective surgery,” he said.

Mr Di Rienzo stressed that the reduction in elective surgery would not compromise patient care and that patients would still receive their procedures within NSW State Benchmarks.

“We expect that our hospitals’ elective surgery waiting lists will remain consistent over the Christmas period and all our major facilities will continue to perform well against NSW State benchmarks,” Mr Di Rienzo said.

Mr Di Rienzo also reminded the community that our emergency departments never close and are always available to treat patients

“Our emergency departments are open to treat patients requiring immediate medical attention for urgent, unexpected conditions 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the year, including public holidays,” Mr Di Rienzo said.

For more information about services over the Christmas and New Year period, please visit http://www.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/67723/2009-10_Xmas_Services_Directory.pdf

Contact: Sharna McCarthy

Phone: 49214501