Ryde Hospital sees patients jump as NSW Nurses Union identifies costs

RYDE Hospital’s emergency department treated 152 more patients last quarter than the same period a year earlier, and the nurses’ union believes GP costs are to blame.

RYDE Hospital’s emergency department treated 152 more patients last quarter than the same period a year earlier, and the nurses’ union believes GP costs are to blame.

The hospital treated 6914 patients at the emergency ward from October to December last year, according to Bureau of Health Information figures.

It is a 2 per cent increase from the 6762 patients treated between October and December 2014.

The average time to start treatment for most triage categories increased by single figures from the previous period. However, these times remained well below the state average.

There was a statewide increase in the number of patients presenting to emergency, which the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association attributed to the cost of seeing GPs.

Doctor checking blood pressure. Picture: Thinkstock

The union’s assistant general secretary Judith Kiejda said: “Our members working in emergency departments often get patients presenting with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma, that require medication they can’t afford through a GP.

“It certainly places a strain on an already pressured service, as the patients still need to go through triage, have a doctor review them, order the medication and take some baseline observations.

“It’s particularly an issue in emergency departments within low socio-economic areas and the problem will only get worse if the government’s proposed cuts to Medicare go through.”

A Northern Sydney Local Health District spokeswoman did not address the cost claims but encouraged patients who did not have life-threatening conditions to see a GP.

People could also gain health advice over the phone or online through Health­direct Australia, according to the spokeswoman.

“It is important that the local community is aware that alternative options and services are available for less urgent conditions,” she said.

Patients requiring urgent care were always prioritised and seen first in an emergency department, she said.