Steven Miles says real-time emergency data “misleading” Queenslanders”

Emergency department violence has escalated fuelled by patients’ frustration over the government’s real time hospital data, the Opposition claims.

Emergency department violence has escalated.

Frontline health workers say they are experiencing more violence across Queensland emergency departments as patients become increasingly frustrated over wait times.

Nurses and midwives have sounded the alarm, while the opposition claims the government’s real-time hospital data is to blame.

Hospital staff report they are bearing the brunt of mounting tension over the misleading wait times, with one nurse struck by a phone when a patient lost their patience.

The new Open Hospitals much-anticipated real-time data website went live in early February. It reports the performance of 25 of the state’s main emergency departments.

But Labor leader Steven Miles said the LNP’s signature health policy is “having unintended consequences in our emergency departments”.

“We have seen reports of a patient arriving to a hospital thinking it was a five-minute median wait, only to be there for three hours,” Mr Miles said.

“We have heard that this confusion and frustration is being taken out on staff who are already operating in an ­incredibly stressful environment.”

However, Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the Open Hospitals website was updated every 15 to 30 minutes with critical information, which was “in stark contrast to Labor providing data only four times a year”.

Steven Miles – Photo Steve Pohlner

Nurses Professional Association of Queensland president Kara Thomas said blown-out wait times are among the main triggers for attacks on staff.

“Frontline nurses and midwives are sounding the alarm. Wait times are likely far worse than what’s being publicly reported, and the gap between lived experience and official data is being reported as a trigger for growing frustration and violence in our emergency departments. The government’s failure to provide accurate, transparent figures is putting staff at greater risk. Urgent action is required to keep them safe,” Ms Thomas said.

Australian Medical Association Queensland chief Nick Yim said that occupational violence is a key cause of doctor burnouts.

Mr Miles said that, buried deep in the data’s terms and conditions, is that the time ­displayed is actually how long it takes for a patient to receive “meaningful treatment”. This could mean the time it takes for a patient to be given a Panadol or drink of water or have their blood pressure taken – not see a doctor.

Kara Thomas. Photo: Lucas Salvatori.

Opposition spokesman on health Mark Bailey said that patients are making health care decisions based on confusing “real-time data” only to be left waiting for hours.

“The LNP said real-time hospital data would help Queenslanders make informed decisions about their health care but instead its misleading time frames and hidden terms and conditions are causing confusion and leading to frustration,” he said. “Every health region I travel to around the state I am hearing the same thing – the data is misleading and the staff are copping the brunt of that confusion.”

Mr Nicholls said the Crisafulli government knew there was “no silver bullet to fix the multiple challenges in health care Labor left”.

“But Open Hospitals is an important first step, providing accurate real-time information to Queenslanders,” he said

The minister said hardworking health workers were caring for our community everyday and deserve to feel safe and be respected at work

Originally published as Steven Miles says real-time emergency data “misleading” Queenslanders”