The hospital emergency crisis: Robina next to be under pressure with ramping

Shock new figures show the public hospital emergency department crisis has switched to a major Gold Coast hospital as hard-working staffers contend with the rollout of new technology.

THE public hospital emergency department crisis has switched to Robina on the Gold Coast as staffers contend with the rollout of new technology.

Statistics released today showed 638 patients in March alone were waiting for more than 24 hours in EDs at Brisbane hospitals, Logan, Redlands and Beaudesert west of the Coast.

Ambulances parked at the Robina Hospital after ramping. Picture: Jerad Williams

Hospital sources said the crisis, as was predicted, has spread to Robina Hospital with the new integrated electronic medical record (ieMR) system being introduced.

“Nine ambulances – ramping yesterday (Saturday), code yellow again,” a hospital source said.

Gold Coast University Hospital had first introduced the new system last month where staffers were getting back-up on how to feed basic patient data into the new system.

LNP health spokesperson Ros Bates said the pressure on the Coast EDs was due to the ieMR system and the dump and run offloading system by ambulances.

The Mudgeeraba MP fears the situation will spike as the Coast hospitals get more patients with the winter flu season.

“It’s unbelievable that just four days into May and already a Gold Coast hospital plunged into code yellow,” Ms Bates said.

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“This is more evidence that Queensland’s health system is in crisis under the Palaszczuk Labor Government and patients are paying the price.

“All Queenslanders no matter where they live, deserve a world-class health system but instead our public health system is going backwards under Labor.”

Ms Bates said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Health Minister Steven Miles could not be trusted to fix the hospitals.

“Miles is a fraud, a phony, and a failure and Annastacia Palaszczuk should sack her embattled Minister for Health, Dr Dolittle,” Ms Bates said.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk’s priorities are all wrong and the shocking statistics at Robina Hospital speak for themselves.”

Robina Hospital - the latest ED in trouble.

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Since Ms Palaszczuk had become Premier, statistics for Robina Hospital reveal 41% of patients were not being seen on time, ramping had increased by 36% and the median elective surgery wait time was 63 days — up 55%.

Ms Bates described the Brisbane figures as “startling” given the clinically recommended time for emergency care was four hours and not 24.

“Our hard-working nurses and doctors are struggling to cope and need more help on the front line,” she said.

The Bulletin is seeking a response from the Government.