Extreme measures to free up beds in overwhelmed hospital

A southeast Queensland hospital is under unprecedented pressure with staff ordered to prioritise patients who could be discharged, including from acute wards, postpone procedures and use virtual health programs.

The Gold Coast University Hospital is under unprecedented pressure with staff ordered to identify and prioritise patients who could be discharged, including from acute wards and those waiting for NDIS or aged care facility support.

The healthcare workers have also been told to use Hospital in Home and virtual health programs, postpone surgeries and medical procedures, prioritise scans and mobilise casual and weekend staff — and executives are blaming the mayhem on school holidays.

Gold Coast University Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Richard Gosling

Chief executive Ron Calvert wrote to healthcare workers on Tuesday, warning of unprecedented demand due to the Easter holiday surge and increased demand for emergency care. He outlined an extreme list of strategies to keep the hospital running, including the discharge of patients.

Every acute ward was asked to identify and move a minimum of one patient ready for discharge to the Transfer Unit between 8am to 10 am for the rest of week to free up beds.

“Discuss with community partners options to expedite the discharge of patients waiting for NDIS or aged care facility support,” Mr Calvert said.

Ron Calvert. Picture: AAP/Darren England

Medics were told to postpone, until Friday evening, planned surgical and medical procedures that could be safely deferred.

Diagnostic imaging was to be prioritised

Non-clinical and education duties were put on hold. The GCUH is one of the busiest teaching hospitals in the state.

Dr Calvert recommended “maximising the use of other strategies ie increasing Hospital and Home capacity, partnering with private hospitals, maximising Southport Lower Acuity Accommodation, interim care beds, virtual wards and telehealth”.

In the last quarter of 2023 there were 936 beds at the GCUH and 32,782 admissions and 10,939 emergency admissions. The hospital was on Tier 3 three times during this period.

Dr Raghu Murthy, A/Executive Director, Medical Services and Clinical Governance told The Courier-Mail that Gold Coast emergency departments were experiencing unusually high demand and the Easter school holidays and visitors to the Gold Coast cause a significant surge in the number of patients presenting for emergency treatment.

“With more people requiring admission, Gold Coast Health is making some temporary changes to some services to ensure safe and compassionate care continues across the health service,” he said.

“We continue to provide the most urgent care (category one and urgent category two patients) for elective surgeries, and of course, emergency surgeries and trauma is as usual. Non-urgent procedures are being postponed,” Dr Murthy said.

Originally published as Extreme measures to free up beds in overwhelmed hospital