Increase in demand for emergency hospital treatment triples population growth

AMA (NSW) President, Prof Brad Frankum, says demand for emergency hospital treatment in NSW is increasing at three times the state’s population growth.

“The latest Bureau of Health Information report continues the trend of setting all-time records, this time in the number of people admitted to NSW hospitals.

“There were nearly half a million occasions in the third quarter of 2016 where someone was sick enough to require admission to hospital,” Prof Frankum said.

“We are seeing continued strong growth every quarter in demand for hospital services – from admissions, to elective surgery, to emergency treatment.

“We also know that our doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff are continuing to achieve incremental gains in performance measures, despite the tsunami of patients they are treating.

“But the real value of the Bureau of Health Information is that it shows trends over time.

“Over the last five years, the population of NSW has grown by about seven per cent but, at the same time, demand for emergency hospital treatment has grown by nearly 21 per cent.

“That is an extra 100,000 thousand patients coming through the doors at NSW hospital emergency departments, compared to the same time five years ago.

“Meanwhile, our hospitals are being resourced as they always have – not taking into account the massive demand increase,” Prof Frankum said.

“The Bureau of Health Information also shows that growth in demand and hospitals’ ability to cope with the massive spikes we’re seeing is unevenly distributed.

“We know that the metropolitan hospitals have to deal with larger numbers of more complex patients and this can slow them down on performance measures like the four hour rule.

“Even within Sydney, hospitals like Westmead, Blacktown, Campbelltown, and Nepean are well behind hospitals in the north and east of the city.

“This doesn’t mean they are poor hospitals or that the staff there are performing badly.

“In fact, it’s quite the opposite – the staff at these hospitals are making heroic use of limited resources in areas of extremely high health demand and population growth.

“We also know that population growth is unevenly distributed.

“Areas like western and south western Sydney are seeing population booms, so it’s no surprise that demand for health services is strongest in these areas,” Prof Frankum said.

“At the end of the day, despite doctors’ best efforts, people are waiting too long for treatment, whether it’s emergency or elective.

“It’s hardly surprising considering the rapid increase in demand.

“Our hospitals are working more efficiently than ever but more resources are needed to ensure people can access quality care within a reasonable timeframe,” Prof Frankum said.

Media contact: Lachlan Jones 0419 402 955