Patients to expect longer wait times, transfers, amid surge of admissions

Patients presenting to emergency departments south of Brisbane are being transferred to other hospitals as the health system continues to grapple with a critical bed shortage.

Patients have been warned to expect longer wait times at Metro South hospitals after a surge in demand for beds.

• Premier says patient to blame for hospital crisis

Patients presenting to full emergency departments south of Brisbane are being transferred to other hospitals as the health system continues to grapple with a critical bed shortage.

Yesterday, every public hospital in the state’s southeast, bar the Queensland Children’s Hospital, was at capacity, forcing the state to spend $3 million on funds for private hospital beds.

Logan Hospital’s emergency department was at capacity yesterday.

Health authorities have blamed the tsunami of admissions on an “unseasonal summer surge”.

Today, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said the cash injection had already helped ease demand at all hospitals except at the Gold Coast, which was still experiencing higher than normal presentations.

But Metro South Health chief executive Dr Stephen Ayre said patients at Logan Hospital should still expect longer wait times and that they may need to be transferred to other hospitals.

Dr Stephen Ayre.

He said Metro South was working with Queensland Ambulance Service and private hospitals, including Canossa, St Vincent’s and the Maters, to ensure patients were treated in an “appropriate time frame”.

“As part of these arrangements, patients may be transferred to other Metro South hospitals or private hospitals we have contracts with,” Dr Ayre said.

“Support is available to assist with the cost of out of pocket costs.”

Dr Ayre called on residents to use ambulances and hospitals only if it was a genuine emergency.

“All patients attending our emergency department will be treated, however we will continue to prioritise patients according to their clinical need,” he said.

“Patients requiring non-urgent treatment are encouraged to attend their GP or medical clinic.”

Mr Miles echoed these comments and acknowledged the pressures medical staff were facing.

“I want our staff to know that the Government understands the tough pressures they are under — and we are responding to them,” he said.

“I want the public to know that our emergency departments remain open but please be patient, and look to other options if you don’t have a genuine emergency.”