Wide Bay health service reveals why patients are moved to rural facilities

WBHHS Our goal is to place the right patient in the right bed at the right time

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service explain why some patients are transfered to rural facilities from the Bundaberg Hospital.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service has revealed why it moves some of its patients out to rural facilities.

The matter was highlighted at a protest outside the Bundaberg Hospital earlier this week.

A WBHHS spokesperson said routinely, the health service did make use of vacant beds in its rural facilities “when it’s appropriate for a patient”.

“Bundaberg Hospital has a dedicated rehabilitation team within its PARAS Unit, but by using our rural facilities we’re able to increase the number of acute beds available to patients and ensure lower acuity patients are rehabilitating in the most appropriate ward environment,” the spokesperson said.

“Our goal is to place the right patient in the right bed at the right time.

“Our rural facilities have highly-skilled local teams, supported by an excellent rural allied and community health team, who provide patients with outstanding care as they rehabilitate.”

The spokesperson said for those patients returning home after their stay at a rural facility, their team would make arrangements for them unless they were able to secure their own transport.

“For those patients who require placement into an aged care bed, WBHHS directly liaises with aged care facilities to make transport arrangements when a bed becomes available,” the spokesperson said.