Emergency wait times set to increase and fluctuate over peak tourist period

Due to a rise in Covid cases and tourists descending on our region, those presenting to emergency are urged to remain patient as one local hospital slashes its emergency opening hours.

Wait times are Geelong Hospital emergency department are set to increase over the busy period. Picture: Alan Barber

Wait times at Geelong hospital’s emergency department are set to increase as visitors flock to the region over summer.

Due to a rise in Covid cases, hot temperatures and thousands of tourists heading to the coast during the peak tourist period, Barwon Health said its emergency department had been under increasing pressure over the past week.

There are currently 39 Covid patients at Geelong Hospital, including 21 who have been admitted since the morning of Christmas Eve.

Deptuty director of emergency services at Barwon Health Dr Elleanor Lee urged those presenting to emergency over the busy period to remain patient.

“Waiting times are hard to predict as demand through summer can fluctuate depending on factors including tourism, weather,” she said.

“Wait times are longer during the holiday period as a result of more visitors to the reduced, reduced access to community health care ... and increased demand.”

Those presenting to emergency over the busy summer period are urged to remain patient with waiting times set to increase due to rise in Covid cases and tourists heading to the region. Picture: Alan Barber

As of Thursday morning, wait times at Geelong hospital’s emergency department were from 1 hour and 10 minutes to more than three hours.

Only two emergency departments in the region will be 24 hours over January as St John of God revealed it will slash its emergency hours.

The private hospital’s emergency department - usually open 24 hours - will be reduced to 7am to 10pm from January 2 to 29.

“Workforce challenges have and continue to impact all health services including our own,” said St John of God chief executive Stephen Roberts.

The region’s second private hospital, Epworth Geelong in Waurn Ponds, will remain open 24 hours throughout the summer.

Due to hot weather over recent days, ambulance call-outs spiked.

Ambulance Victoria executive director Anthony Carlyon said paramedic’s workload increased by 13 percent during the heatwave.

Dr Lee said those will less urgent conditions may face longer wait times to see a doctor and encourages those patients to consider visiting Barwon Health North in Norlane or to contact nurse-on-call for health advice.

Originally published as Emergency wait times set to increase and fluctuate over peak tourist period