Keep Quirindi ED for emergencies
Tuesday 13 December 2011
Quirindi community members have been given a friendly reminder that the Emergency Department (ED) is for emergencies.
The ED is a vital community service that needs to be operating efficiently in order to ensure patients in the most critical condition get access to medical help when they need it. Coming to the ED with non-urgent or non-critical problems can take staff away from this important work.
Quirindi Community Hospital Manager Luke Sams said the reminder was in response to the growing number of presentations at the ED for non-urgent medical treatments.
“While we will never refuse to treat someone presenting at the ED, the community needs to be made aware of its primary role in treating patients with urgent life threatening conditions – it is not designed to replace the role of a General Practitioner in treating minor illnesses or injuries.”
Mr Sams said with three full-time GPs available in the community, residents should call the GP practices to make appointments for non-urgent conditions.
“We now have three GPs available to the community,” Mr Sams said. “Both Quirindi GP practices have indicated they have the capacity to accept more patients, so if you feel you can wait to see one of the GPs at their practices give them a call to make an appointment.”
Mr Sams said it was important that community members understood the triage process used in all emergency departments.
“We treat all patients based on their condition,” Mr Sams said. “Each patient presenting at the ED will have their condition assessed and categorised by the triage nurse on duty. A patient’s triage category will determine the time they wait for treatment at the ED.
“Depending on their condition, some patients wait longer to be seen that other people in serious or life-threatening conditions. By considering your treatment options thoroughly, you can ensure that people in need or urgent care can be seen as quickly as possible
“We would appreciate the community’s assistance and cooperation with this, to ensure our Emergency Department is being used in the most efficient way. This benefits the whole community both now and over the long-term,” Mr Sams said.
“Please make an appointment to see your GP if your condition is non-urgent or non-critical.”
If you’re unsure whether to seek medical attention from the emergency department or wait to see your GP, call the free After Hours GP Helpline on 1800 022 222 (freecall). Available through healthdirect Australia, the after hours GP helpline is open when your GP may not be – at nights, on weekends and on public holidays – 365 days a year. If you don’t know what to do, the after hours GP helpline, manned by registered nurses and GPs, will give you the reassurance and practical advice you need.
Contact: Communication Unit
Phone: (02) 4985 5522