Superficial cases clog emergency care units

ONE in three patients who show up at Queensland emergency departments have minor ailments such as sunburn, ingrown nails, common colds and even hiccups.

New figures reveal emergency departments are being clogged up by people with conditions that should be treated by a GP or pharmacist.

The average cost of these minor treatments is $ 531, according to Queensland Health.

These figures suggest the state’s emergency departments are being slugged about $ 27 million a month from treating conditions that are not urgent or life- threatening.

Overworked emergency doctors and nurses are being forced to treat people for afflictions ranging from nose bleeds and ear infections to splinters and muscle cramps.

Other patients seek treatment for sexually transmitted diseases including warts, chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

People are also avoiding paying to go to a doctor to get basic treatment and are instead turning up at emergency departments to get prescriptions refilled or just to obtain medical certificates for time off work.

Data from July 2017 to last month show 360,000 patients were classified as “GP type”, meaning they should have sought treatment from a GP.

More than 38,000 people sought treatment in those seven months for a sprain or strain.

Emergency department nurses attended to about 7500 surgical dressings or sutures.

About 1800 people went to an emergency department to get a prescription refilled, while about 1500 people only wanted a medical certificate.