WCH to put on extra staff in ED as it struggles with demand

The Women’s and Children’s Hospital will put on extra ED staff and has commissioned a review as it struggles to deal with demand.

An extra eight medical staff will be added to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Paediatric Emergency Department to boost numbers during the evening which is the busiest time for the facility.

It comes amid complaints about overcrowding during peak periods, long waiting times to be seen and the first incidence of ambulance ramping at the hospital.

The hospital also has commissioned an independent review of the ED.

A Women’s and Children’s Health Network statements says the offer has been accepted by ED staff and the clinicians will include an additional senior medical practitioner.

“We will also be adding an additional registered medical officer and several new senior registrar positions to support peak demand as part of the eight new positions,” the statement says.

“We are committed to delivering the highest level of care to our patients, and every child who presents to our Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) will receive the treatment they need.

Artist impressions of proposed new Women's and Children's Hospital Adelaide.

“While our hospital has experienced increased demand in recent months, the WCHN has been actively engaging with our PED leadership team and commissioned an external Safety & Quality Review of the Department.

“A number of measures and resources have been implemented to meet the needs of all our patients, assist our staff and improve patient flow.

“We thank our staff for always working hard to provide the best possible care and services for our patients and the community.”

The new staff follow several new positions in recent months to help improve flow and quality of care, including a GP liaison consultant, additional social worker, mental health positions, and additional medical staff.

Ramping at Women's and Children's Hospital. Picture: Ambulance Employees Association

Other strategies include extra nursing and medical staff to open nine extra treatment spaces in the ED to assist with increasing presentations during the busiest period of the day.

Resources also have been added to inpatient services to improve the flow of patients through the hospital and the hospital recently introduced the Children and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service to reduce unnecessary presentations to the ED.

Unions have raised the alarm about wait times at the WCH with the Ambulance Employees Association posting photos of ambulances ramped at the hospital for the first time, on the evening of November 23

“Children should not be ramped,” the union said at the time. “Our children are being harmed and our clinicians are suffering burnout.”

The doctors’ union sent officials to the hospital that evening as complaints flowed about gridlock in the emergency department.

The SA Salaried Medical Officers Association said at one stage on that Tuesday night “68 patients and 30 children” were in the waiting room at the emergency department which has capacity for 35 patients.

“What the hell is going on and what the hell is being done about it,” SASMOA officials said at the time.

“At some stage hospital administrators and boards need to step up – you know what is happening.”