Royal Hobart Hospital escalated to level four following surge in demand

THE Royal Hobart Hospital has increased its escalation plan to the highest level for the third time in four weeks after a significant increase in demand.

Ambulances parked outside the emergency department at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

THE Royal Hobart Hospital has increased its escalation plan to the highest level for the third time in four weeks after a significant increase in demand.

Management this evening the hospital had been escalated to level four — the highest level of its operating system — because of a surge in demand from patients.

Royal Hobart Hospital chief operating officer Nicola Dymond said shortly after 4pm there were 57 people in the emergency department, with 25 admitted and waiting for beds on a ward.

“Staff are working to manage this period of high demand and continue delivering the very

best in patient care,” she said.

The hospital also escalated to level four on June 4 and again last Tuesday. There were two level four escalations in March.

Ms Dymond said escalations such as this enabled additional resources to be used to help ensure patients receive the care and services needed.