GROWING PAINS
Coast hospitals short-changed on bed numbers
GOLD Coast’s two public hospitals have 500 fewer beds than the national average despite the region’s ballooning population.
A key nurse lobby group has branded the State Government “incompetent” and that the bed shortage crisis had “gotten out of hand”. Australia has on average 2.6 beds for every 1000 people, while the Gold Coast’s average – with a population of 591,000 – is just 1.69.
Nurses Professional Association executive director Graeme Haycroft said the situation on the frontline at Gold Coast University and Robina hospitals was dire.
A TOP Gold Coast GP says hospital bed blocks could be eased if inappropriate admissions from nursing homes were reduced.
Dr Sonu Haikerwal, the past-president of the Gold Coast Medical Association, said many patients who arrive at emergency departments from aged-care homes could be treated elsewhere.
“If we do our job well as GPs and make ourselves available to communicate with the nursing home staff in a timely and effective manner, assess falls and more, we could avoid transfer to hospitals,” she said.
Dr Haikerwal, co-owner and principal general practitioner at the Haan Health Medical Centre, said the pathways for alternate care could provide more efficient response to patients with minor health concerns.
In just one day, Dr Haikerwal said she was aware of four patients from a single nursing home that avoided transfer to the emergency department because she made regular visits.
“There are attempts to provide good pathways to avoid overcrowding, but there is huge room for improvement.
“Nursing homes themselves aren’t keen to transfer. It is costly, difficult logistically and once a patient is admitted they are at risk of infections and worsening of their dementia in some cases.
“They should be assessed by a community-based service wherever possible.”
Dr Haikerwal said a GP should be able to attend to at least a third of patients currently presenting at Gold Coast emergency departments.
“We don’t need another $2 billion to build a new hospital. We need to keep our patients healthy in the community through strengthening and