Hospital ED pressure worsens at Gold Coast hospitals confront ramping crisis

THE Emergency Department crisis at busy Gold Coast hospitals is worsening with almost half of patients in some instances not being attended on time, according to the latest data.

The ED at the Gold Coast University Hospital at Parkwood. Picture Mike Batterham

THE Emergency Department crisis at busy Gold Coast hospitals is worsening with almost half of patients in some instances not being attended on time, according to the latest data.

At the Gold Coast University Hospital, 47 per cent of emergency department (ED) patients are not seen on time and 29 per cent are waiting in ambulances impacted by ramping.

WAITING TIMES GROWING AT GOLD COAST’S HOSPITALS

The busy Gold Coast University Hospital at Parkwood. Picture Mike Batterham

By comparison, the ED wait at Robina Hospital affects 33 per cent of patients and 28 per cent are ramped in stationary ambulances.

“The Gold Coast public system is lurching from crisis to crisis under Annastacia Palaszczuk,” Opposition health spokeswoman and Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates said yesterday.

“Our hard-working nurses, midwives, doctors and paramedics are struggling to cope with the increased workload.”

The release of the data has again put the focus on Health Minister Steven Miles who Ms Bates believes should be stood down from the portfolio after taking over from senior Minister Cameron Dick.

“These latest reports are damning and another reason why Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to sack her failing Health Minister,” Ms Bates said.

The ramping crisis at Gold Coast hospitals is being monitored by MP and nurse Ros Bates.

A Gold Coast Bulletin report last year detailed how a patient remained on a stretcher at the Gold Coast University Hospital for more than four hours as the ED confronted record presentations.

Mr Miles accused Ms Bates of talking down ED staff who were working tirelessly to deliver excellent care.

More than 170,000 people were treated at the Gold Coast University Hospital and Robina Hospital emergency departments in the past financial year and 76% of those people departed within four hours, he said.

Health Minister Steven Miles is defending Gold Coast hospital staff. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

“At the Gold Coast University Hospital, the demand has increased 6% on last year, which far outstrips population growth,” Mr Miles said.

Despite these demand challenges the Coast hospital’s performance was among the best in the country for large hospitals, he added.

“This has been achieved thanks to the hardworking doctors, nurses and staff,” Mr Miles said.

New innovations including establishing a Queensland-first co-ordination hub and investing several million dollars to open more beds in the ED had helped patient flow.

“Ros Bates should be careful talking down our hospitals. On the Gold Coast, 97 per cent of patients are satisfied with their hospital visit over the past 12 months,” Mr Miles said.