New Prince of Wales Hospital emergency beds open
Prince of Wales Hospital has opened eight new hospital beds as the emergency department has coped with 60 per cent more patients than it was designed to handle in the past 12 months.
- Prince of Wales Hospital redevelopment on track
- Michael Daley promises to stop Botany Bay cruise terminal
On most days, patients awaiting treatment spill out into the ambulance bay at the Prince of Wales Hospital’s emergency department.
In the past 12 months alone, the ED treated 25,000 more patients — 60 per cent more — than it was designed to handle.
But with the major redevelopment of the hospital still more than three years away from opening, a boost to the hospital’s ED couldn’t wait.
On Friday, the State Government, represented by Coogee state Liberal MP Bruce Notley-Smith, opened eight new hospital beds for the acute service, bringing the total to 30.
For emergency unit nurse manager Liz Ryan, the temporary assistance is a boon.
“Last year we saw 62,000 patients, and we’ve only got 12 acute beds and so what happens, often, most afternoons of the week, is we have a crowd of patients sitting in the ambulance bay,” she said.
“They didn’t necessarily come in by ambulance, they’ve been triaged and they’re too sick to wait in the waiting room and they need to be in acute or they’ve got other risk factors.
“For those crowd of patients, I’ll have more beds to see people on and it will improve waiting times.”
In 2016-2017, the median length of time patients were in the ED was three hours and three minutes, however the time until 90 per cent had been cleared, was six hours and 48 minutes. By comparison, the national performance for the latter was about eight hours and three minutes.
ED co-medical director David Murphy said the strain felt by the Prince of Wales Hospital’s acute care team was not unique.
“It’s a nationwide problem, the demand for emergency departments has been climbing and climbing, gradually, year on year.”
Dr Murphy said fellow staff were relieved at the additions.
The interim ED upgrades are expected to support staff and patients until the Prince of Wales Hospital’s new acute services building comes online in 2022.
Hospital general manager Tobi Wilson said it would have been “a real challenge for this ED to survive, with its previous footprint for that period of time.”
“To be able to get this opportunity early, while we are waiting for the new hospital to be built … it will give us enough capacity to get through to 2022 safely.
“It was already seeing about 25,000 more patients a year than what it was built to service, so this certainly gets it in to the ballpark of being able to see the patients safely.”
BOOST IN FACILITIES
The Randwick health and education precinct is being transformed with a massive $720 million funding injection.
A new Prince of Wales Hospital acute services building will be built with stage one including the new adult emergency department.
In addition, there will be an expanded Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre (PECC), adjacent to the emergency department; an expanded intensive care unit; 10 inpatient units (IPUs); new operating theatres; an expanded central sterilising service department; and a new unit supporting in-home care. New education, research and training facilities are expected for the northern end of the expansion site.
It will be the first major upgrade in 20 years.
ARTWORK TO PUT PATIENTS AT EASE
Anxiety, pain and even despair can overwhelm patients in the waiting room of a hospital emergency department.
Which is why the team at the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation commissioned indigenous artist Natalie Bateman to bring some visual relief to those awaiting treatment.
In her new four-panel painting, La Pa, Bateman has illustrated flora and fauna significant to her heritage and the region.
She said the whale depicted the people and the stingray was their totem, accompanied by local bush tucker and bush medicine.
“The pig face, they’re so beautiful. And when we grew up Mum would say, ‘Eat these, they’re full of vitamin C’,” she said.
Geebung, black wattle seeds and sarsaparilla are also represented.
Bateman, whose work is also at Campbelltown Hospital, said it was “an honour” to have her work associated with healthcare.
“For me, seeing my artwork (in hospitals), it’s an honour because you are going in for something and if it switches your mind to something beautiful that’s my job done, so I’m happy with that.”
A self-taught artist, Bateman said she was inspired by the indigenous culture of her maternal family, the Ellas of La Perouse.
“I’ve just combined the talent from my dad’s side with my mum’s culture,” she said.
La Pa was unveiled on Friday. To see her other work head to natsart.com.au.
STAR POWER
Hollywood star Naomi Watts was an instant hit when she visited Ronald McDonald House on Friday.
The 44-year-old McHappy Day ambassador spent the morning with some of the 30 families staying at the Randwick residence.
Watts, mother to Alexander, 11, and Samuel, 9, said signing up as an ambassador was an obvious choice.
“As soon as you become a parent, when your kids wake up in the morning your worries begin,” she said. ”Then when they’re going to bed at night your worries don’t go away and you’re always concerned about their safety and health. Then, as they get older, their emotional wellbeing. So I can really relate to parents who are dealing with sick children, it’s an unbearable thought.”
McHappy Day was on Saturday. Funds raised at McDonald’s outlets went to the charity.
Suburbs where homes are selling for huge discounts
Homeowners in some suburbs have been slashing up to $105,000 off their prices to bait buyers ahead of expected rate cuts.
Ex-Swans coach enjoys $4m+ win post-AFL exit
Retired premiership winning coach John Longmire is quietly celebrating a big money win after his exit from the AFL.