Sick kids waiting hours for help, sick adults waiting days for a bed at Lyell McEwin Hospital

Besieged frontline clinicians at a hospital in Adelaide’s north say they are ‘shattered’ in constantly dealing with more patients than official capacity.

Sick children were waiting hours to be seen by a doctor and sick adults waiting days for a ward bed when the doctors’ union made a snap inspection of Lyell McEwin Hospital.

A report to SafeWork SA listing alleged contraventions of health and safety legislation reveals the pressure frontline public hospital clinicians are facing — but hospital officials say they have confirmed with SafeWork that no contraventions occurred.

The report by SA Salaried Medical Officers Association chief industrial officer Bernadette Mulholland from her inspection on July 11 shows doctors worried about patient safety amid overwhelming demand on the emergency department.

It found 108 patients seeking help at an ED with 59 cubicles, and 11 patients stuck in the ED after treatment for more than 40 hours waiting for a ward bed.

“I was told that the ‘morning crew are shattered’.” the report states. “There was enormous distress and worry among the doctors because ‘every cubicle is maxed out’.

“Doctors were concerned there were 11 kids waiting, and the longest wait time for the kids was three hours. The doctors were concerned for the sick children, as deterioration can happen quickly.”

SASMOA chief industrial officer, Bernadette Mulholland. Picture: Matt Loxton

Northern Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive Karen Puvogel said plans were in place to ensure all ED staff are familiar with the different escalation processes available to them.

“Our staff work hard to anticipate periods of increased demand, which are heavily influenced by surges in respiratory illnesses like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus and require patients to be admitted into single rooms,” she said.

“During the winter period, we have a range of strategies in place to create extra capacity and help reduce impact on patients and staff. We are committed to providing a safe environment for our staff and consumers and will continue to work with SafeWork SA and SASMOA in response to their enquiries.”

Originally published as Sick kids waiting hours for help, sick adults waiting days for a bed at Lyell McEwin Hospital