Stop wasting time in our emergency department

DOCTORS’ time is a precious resource, and patients walking into the emergency department have to stop wasting it.

FILE PHOTO

DOCTORS' time is a precious resource, and patients walking into the emergency department have to stop wasting it.

We revealed today the number of category five patients seen at Toowoomba Hospital remains high despite campaigns from Queensland Health.

Based on the triage system used in our hospitals, these people are simply not presenting with an ailment regarded as an emergency.

Some of the reasons they have presented to ED include, according to Queensland Health, warts, sore throats and even hiccups.

The doctors working in this part of the hospital are not there to hand out medical certificates, tend to sunburn or pull out splinters.

It puts pressure on a system designed to help people with life-threatening emergencies.

If you're unsure whether your ailment is an emergency, Queensland Health recommends you call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) before you make the trip to the ED.

It's a confidential phone service that provides health advice 24 hours a day.

The service will save everyone's time and direct you to the right care over the phone.

Originally published as Stop wasting time in our emergency department