Far North patients wait more than an hour as Cairns Hospital buckles under demand

Emergency department delays, a GP shortage and taxi and rideshare wait times have created a perfect storm as Far North patients waited over an hour to be treated at Cairns Hospital. How long they are waiting.

UPDATE: EMERGENCY department delays, a GP shortage and taxi and Uber wait times have created a perfect storm as Far North patients were waiting more than an hour to be treated at Cairns Hospital.

With a stabbing pain in her stomach, Melbourne visitor, Ana Rivas along with brother-in-law Rafael Lopez, spent half an hour searching for a GP before giving up and heading to the hospital.

“It was impossible to find a GP, it was a little bit concerning that you couldn’t find one,” Mr Lopez said.

“It’s the second day of our trip and now we’re here (at the hospital),” Ms Rivas said.

It took another half-hour for an Uber to accept their ride to get them there as extended taxi and rideshare delays added to the strain Far Northerners have been facing accessing health care.

After arriving at the hospital, Ms Rivas said she was assessed and made to wait outside the ED and hasn’t been treated after 50 minutes.

“I don’t know how long (the wait) will be, they didn’t say,” she said.

“The worst part is you don’t know what’s happening and you need to have someone assessing the problem as soon as possible,” Mr Lopez said.

“We couldn’t get that unfortunately.”

EARLIER: LONG wait times are expected at Cairns Hospital, with the emergency department coming under increasing pressure on Sunday.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service tweeted on Sunday about 12.30pm to warn of the busy period.

Ramping out the front of the Cairns Hospital emergency department in May. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“Cairns Hospital’s emergency department is currently extremely busy,” the tweet said.

“If you want to come to our ED, please be mindful there are currently extended wait times.”

This isn’t the first time the emergency department has been put under pressure.

In May, a young mum was forced to cradle her infant for hours while waiting to see a doctor. While in 2021 more than 12 ambulances had also been crammed in the carpark outside the hospital.

There have been calls previously about increasing patient demand needing to be addressed by Queensland Health.

Together Union senior vice president Dr Sandy Donald told the Cairns Post in 2021 there was a need to sort out a long-term solution.

More to come.

Originally published as Far North patients wait more than an hour as Cairns Hospital buckles under demand