Beds no quick fix for hospital emergency

CAIRNS Hospital managers will develop a business case for a further expansion of the hospital’s emergency department, but they admit adding more beds will not fix the health crisis.

The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, and the Australian Medical Association met Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service executives yesterday morning to discuss an immediate solution to the hospital’s chronic underresourcing issues.

Both the ACEM and AMA Queensland want the hospital to open 10 beds in the ED, which must be distinct from beds being bought at Cairns Private Hospital to manage acute admissions.

They have given CHHHS until Monday to address issues of hospital ramping, and bed shortages, otherwise they will escalate their concerns with Queensland’s Health Minister Steven Miles. There was an average 215 presentations a day to Cairns Hospital’s ED last month, an increase of 10 per cent more than July 2018.

CHHHS medical services executive director Dr Don Mackie, however, said managing demand and the increasing patient admissions was “not simply solved by adding more beds”.

“The increase in demand on the hospital requires a range of solutions, both short and longterm, including improving the systems and processes around patient flow,” he said.

He said there were several actions under way to address patient demand, including: using an extra six beds at Mareeba Hospital for older patients in winter; a contract with Cairns Private Hospital to provide more beds; starting the new Emergency Department Hospital in the Home Service; and developing a business case for further expansion of the ED.

“We are working to implement these initiatives as quickly as possible,” Dr Mackie said. “We urge people to please see their GP in the first instance – unless it is an emergency.”

ACEM president Dr Simon Judkins said measures to address the crisis were needed immediately, with a greater focus on implementation.