Wait times for ‘urgent’ emergency cases far worse in South Australia
Patients triaged as “urgent” are waiting longer to be seen at public hospital EDs, an AMA report shows.
SA News
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Wait times for patients seeking “urgent” help at public hospital emergency departments are blowing out despite the state government’s heavily publicised Building a Bigger Health System plan.
South Australia’s EDs are performing at their worst levels in recent history according to the Australian Medical Association’s Public Hospital Report Card, released on Friday.
Just 38 per cent of “urgent” (category three) patients were seen within the recommended 30 minute target during 2023-24, well below the national average of 60 per cent.
The AMA notes this is a significant decline from 10 years earlier when 65 per cent of “urgent” patients were seen on time.
It is not just the urgent category going backwards — the AMA’s report card indicates half of all patients in all five triage categories were not discharged or relocated within the recommended time frame of four hours or less, a 12 per cent decline in the past five years.
However this is against a background of soaring demand. In 2023-24, SA had 258,283 “urgent” ED presentations, the highest in 12 years and a 10 per cent increase on the previous year.
AMA state president Dr John Williams said the figures reflect the “stubborn challenges frontline health staff confront daily – overwhelming patient demand, staffing shortages, stretched resources.”
“Despite the best efforts of our hardworking doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, patients are not receiving the standard of care they deserve,” he said.
“We recognise the government’s efforts to increase capacity in the public hospital system, but the dial doesn’t seem to be shifting – at least, not far enough.
“There’s no quick fix, but the solution starts with smart investment in general practice.”
Dr Williams said general practice is the most effective and cost-efficient way to keep patients well and reduce avoidable hospital presentations.
He welcomed multibillion-dollar funding commitments from political parties ahead of the federal election but says the money “must be spent wisely”.
The AMA’s Modernise Medicare plan calls for a model which supports longer GP consultations to better manage increasing rates of chronic and complex conditions.
SA Health chief executive Dr Robyn Lawrence said SA Health is committed to improving patient flow while maintaining high quality and safe levels of care.
“We are working to improve patient flow with a substantial increase to hospital bed capacity through upgrades and expansion of existing infrastructure, increase in workforce, and the creation of new and innovative facilities across South Australia,” she said.
“This includes the new Transition Care Service, as well virtual care services to ensure care is being delivered in the right place.”
The transition service will see non-acute patients moved from hospital to locations including hotels to recover prior to returning home or to appropriate accommodation.
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Originally published as Wait times for ‘urgent’ emergency cases far worse in South Australia
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