New figures show 24 hour emergency waits at Wide Bay hospitals

The region’s health service has disputed claims about the state of Hervey Bay’s and Bundaberg’s ED wait times as new figures reveal hundreds of patients spent more than 24 hours there before being discharged or admitted.

Wide Bay’s health service has fired back at criticism over emergency department waiting times, saying new figures bandied about by the state opposition do not support its claims. (From left) MP Ros Bates, Hervey Bay Hospital emergency department and WBHHS CEO Ben Ross-Edwards.

Wide Bay’s health service has fired back at criticism over emergency department waiting times, saying new figures bandied about by the state opposition do not support its claims.

The figures released by the state government show hundreds of patients at the Hervey Bay and Bundaberg hospitals spent more than 24 hours in the emergency department while waiting to be admitted as an inpatient or discharged.

The figures covered the period from October 2022 to January 2023.

At Hervey Bay Hospital, 1225 patients faced a wait of more than 24 hours over that period, the highest total in the state and more than double the next closest on the list.

Bundaberg Hospital figures were the second worst in the state, at 512, narrowly topping the hospitals at Ipswich and Rockhampton (447 and 437 respectively).

In other parts of the Wide Bay, Maryborough Hospital had 122 patients waiting more than 24 hours, and Gympie Hospital had only 31.

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The figures were revealed by opposition spokeswoman for health Ros Bates following a question on notice.

In a media statement Ms Bates said the figures should serve as a wake-up call for the government.

“These figures are disturbing and there are no signs of it stopping,” Ms Bates said.

“Emergency departments aren’t waiting bays.

“Hospital corridors aren’t rooms.

“The state government has failed to properly plan, resource and run our health system since they took power eight years ago.”

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service CEO Ben Ross-Edwards said the figures in question “do not refer to emergency department wait times, but to ‘total length of stay’”.

“This refers to the time between the patient being assessed by a medical professional, and when they are sent home or moved to a ward bed,” Mr Ross-Edwards said.

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“During this period, a patient is under the care of the emergency team in the treatment area of the ED – not the waiting room.

“In complex cases, this entire process can take over 24 hours, however this includes all the treatment and medical care that is being provided, and does not refer to waiting for care.

“Nobody is in the emergency department waiting room for 24 hours waiting to be seen, and patients should be reassured that they will receive timely treatment based on the urgency of their condition.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said in her response to Ms Bates it “must be recognised that any patient who has an emergency department stay for longer than 24 hours has been appropriately triaged and started receiving medical treatment in the emergency department”.

“These patients would not be situated in a waiting room awaiting clinical care.”