Proposed changes to Gold Coast’s ‘busiest’ ED sparks fears of clinic closure

One year after Australia’s busiest emergency department was expanded to combat an ‘explosion’ of patients, proposed changes could see part of it shut down. Find out more.

Gold Coast University Hospital staff have raised concerns for the Minor Injuries and Illnesses clinic amid an internal review into the hospital’s Emergency Department. Picture: Scott Fletcher

A proposed “service improvement” to the Gold Coast University Hospital’s (GCUH) emergency department has sparked concerns the facility’s Minor Injuries and Illness Clinic could shut down.

Gold Coast Health has confirmed consultation was underway with GCUH staff and unions to discuss proposed changes to the country’s busiest emergency department.

The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union claims the change would see 15 beds and 36 full-time staff removed from the emergency department. However, officials say no beds or staff will be lost from the health system.

Gold Coast University Hospital is considering plans to shut down the minor injuries and illnesses clinic inside its emergency department. Picture: Mike Batterham

The $5 million clinic opened mid last year in response to a population “explosion” and extra pressure due to the Covid pandemic – which saw the hospital record more that 46,200 presentations across three months.

At the time, Gold Coast Health said the clinic would “help address demand and to improve ambulance offload times” by redirecting and treating non-emergency patients.

Currently it is estimated that the clinic alone, which takes up 10 of the ED’s 83 treatment spaces, sees around 50 to 70 patients daily with the ED seeing to more than 120,000 presentations a year.

However hundreds of GCUH staff have already opposed plans to repurpose the clinic, saying any decision to change or reduce it would put patient care at risk.

Last year, patient were found sleeping on the floor at the Gold Coast University Hospital’s Emergency Department.

A Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union spokeswoman said that any decision to close or reduce the clinic would set a “concerning precedent” for the rest of the state.

“(We) are deeply concerned for the wellbeing of emergency patients and staff at Gold Coast University Hospital following Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCHHS) consultation regarding the possible closure of the Minor Injuries and Illnesses Clinic,” the spokeswoman said.

“(We are) advised more than 400 GCUH staff have formally called for the clinic to remain open during GCUH consultation around the possible closure.

“The QNMU is advised GCHHS plan is to repurpose the space for a general medical ward to house non-emergency patients. It’s understood the change would see 15 beds and 36 FTE staff removed from the GCUH ED.

“The GCUH has one of the busiest EDs in the state. The QNMU is concerned the closure would impact ED patients and staff and could set a concerning precedent for other Queensland Health EDs.”

Hospital officials said no decision regarding the clinic will be made without consultation with key stakeholders, However hundreds of hospital staff have already opposed the plans. Picture: Mike Batterham

According to Gold Coast Health, the consultation – which started earlier this month – is part of an internal four-phase “workforce change process” that is conducted regularly to identify areas of improvement at the hospital.

Over the past five years, Gold Coast Health has undertaken around 80 workforce consultations.

A Gold Coast Health spokeswoman said talks over the proposed changes were still in “early days” and that no decision regarding the clinic or the emergency department had been made.

“Already as part of this consultation process, a variety of alternative concepts – designed to improve emergency department performance – have emerged from doctors, nurses and allied health staff, and these are also currently being explored,” the spokeswoman said.

“No decisions about proposed changes to the model of care have been made, nor will they be made until staff and unions have had an opportunity to provide feedback.”

“No beds or health roles will be lost as part of any of the changes proposed.”

The initial consultation period will close for GCUH hospital staff an unions on August 28.