Canberra GPs urged to reconsider sending patients to the emergency department
Updated
Canberra GPs have been asked to think twice before referring their patients to the Canberra Hospital emergency department as it manages "very high levels of service demand".
A letter from ACT Health dated last Wednesday asked Canberra doctors to investigate other referral options or treatment pathways before sending patients to the ED.
"Please note that Canberra Hospital and Health Services are currently experiencing very high levels of service demand and patient acuity," the letter, titled Important Message from Canberra Hospital, read.
"Of course, we all want to have the best care for the patients under our care, however we are seeking your support as we seek to manage this demand and acuity such that services are available for those in most urgent need."
GPs have been asked to contact the admitting officer for advice before sending a patient to emergency, which an ACT Health spokesperson said was in line with current practice at Calvary Public Hospital.
Opposition Health spokeswoman Vicki Dunne said the directive was dangerous.
"GPs only really refer patients to the hospital when they need hospitalisation and hospital treatment," she said.
"I'm very concerned that GPs will be encouraged to delay treatment for their patients and it will have adverse medical outcomes.
"That could be that someone gets sicker for longer and it may mean that people will die because there are not enough services available."
She said she had never seen a letter advising GPs to reconsider ED referrals.
Attempt to avoid emergency mode in flu season
Ms Dunne blamed the directive on an attempt by ACT Health to pre-empt capacity issues during this year's flu season.
"They don't want to have the situation last year where there were big bottlenecks," she said.
"They're trying to avoid that and they're trying to put pressure on doctors elsewhere to make sure that patients don't turn up at the hospital."
For three months from July last year, the hospital remained at "Alert Level 3" — an emergency response level triggered when services are at risk of becoming overwhelmed or disrupted.
The ACT Government said that was due to the severe flu season that swept the entire country.
The Government introduced free flu vaccines for young children in an attempt to reduce the burden this season.
Extra beds for flu season
In the lead-up to this year's territory budget, the Government announced $112 million for the Canberra Hospital over four years, with $47.2 million going to the ED, intensive care and ward beds.
That included increasing capacity by 80 beds over four years, however numbers would fluctuate with demand.
Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris at the time said 72 extra beds would be available for the 2018 winter season and more staff would be hired.
On Tuesday, ACT Health reiterated the stress that would be placed on the Canberra Hospital and Health Services (CHHS) over the next few months.
"As we move into the winter season, CHHS will experience an increase in the volume and acuity of patients," a spokesperson said.
"We would like to remind the community that there are a range of health service options available for people with non-life or limb-threatening injuries/illnesses.
"We would encourage people to use these alternatives where appropriate."
Ms Dunne said she feared beds in other wards would be sacrificed to cope with the flu season.
"It will be very interesting to see where those beds actually turn out," she said.
"I know the hospital has made some provision for extra beds but at the cost of other medical beds at the hospital and I think that is a sign of poor planning and lack of preparedness."
Topics: health, states-and-territories, healthcare-facilities, canberra-2600, act
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