Demand spike at Geelong hospital emergency department, 15 ambulances in an hour

More than a dozen ambulances were at Geelong hospital transferring patients in a brief period on Tuesday, as the health system battles the region’s swollen summer population.

Geelong hospital’s emergency department has faced a surge in demand.

Geelong hospital saw a surge in demand with 15 ambulances - around four times the hourly average - transferring patients at one stage on Tuesday.

It comes as the region’s health system battles a summer population surge, which can swell by more than 100,000 during the busy holiday period.

Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby told the Geelong Advertiser the flurry of arrivals occurred over a “brief period” and the situation was under control.

“In a 50-minute window, 15 ambulances arrived with patients requiring treatment, which is more than the average of three to four ambulances per hour,” she said.

“Despite this surge, our services managed the demand.”

The Geelong Advertiser understands that despite the rush, the average offload time on Tuesday was 43 minutes, against a target of 40 minutes.

In addition, there are a range of treatment options for non-life-threatening illness and injuries and using these services, such as Barwon Health North, GPs and priority primary care centres, helps reserve ambulances and the Emergency Department for the most vital care.

The area has experienced seasonal population growth over the tourist period, but Ambulance Victoria has made operational arrangements to meet increased demand.

It’s understood no operational escalations were required on Tuesday.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said the authority worked closely with hospitals to transfer patients as promptly as possible to get crews back on the road, responding to emergency incidents.

“Crews remain busy throughout this summer holiday period, particularly in the Geelong, Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula region,” the spokesman said.

“We always encourage the community to save Triple Zero (000) for emergencies and consider alternative care pathways for less urgent health needs, such as the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED), NURSE-ON-CALL, Priority Primary Care Centres, and your GP or pharmacist.”

The VVED, a free service, can treat non-life-threatening emergencies virtually, with no need to attend an emergency department.

NURSE-ON-CALL (1300 60 60 24) is a free service that puts you in contact with a registered nurse for professional health advice around the clock.

Priority Primary Care Centres provide GP-led care to people who need urgent care, but not an emergency response.

Originally published as Demand spike at Geelong hospital emergency department, 15 ambulances in an hour