19 October 2007

Meagher meets emergency department taskforce

NSW Health Minister, Reba Meagher, today met with the Emergency Care Taskforce.

Ms Meagher said the group had agreed to develop strategies addressing three main topics - Staffing and Workforce, Increased Demand at Emergency Departments and Communication with Hospital Management.

The Taskforce was set up earlier this month by Ms Meagher following a meeting with various heads of Emergency Departments from public hospitals across metropolitan Sydney.

"The group will focus on a number of key issues, including increased patient numbers in Emergency Departments, workforce pressures and better communication with hospital management," Ms Meagher said.

"The Emergency Care Taskforce, which will report to both myself and the Director-General of NSW Health, represents a positive step in rebuilding the relationship between all parties.

"The group discussed the need for adequate, appropriately trained staff, strategies to meet increasing demand and better support structures to enable clinicians to get on with the job of treating patients."

All parties agreed that work could commence immediately on the following:

• Promoting Emergency Nursing as a specialty area;
• Review of nurse staffing within our busiest Emergency Departments consistent with the principles endorsed by the statewide Nurse Reasonable Workload Steering Committee;
• Reviewing prior work in relation to defining ED workforce requirements;
• Reviewing data on existing vacancies and use of International Medical Graduates and locums;
• Explore the potential for ED physicians to access private billing opportunities similar to those available to other medical professionals;
• Strengthening support for GP Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs) to provide emergency care;
• Better manage the use of locums;
• Development of targets and performance indicators for ward placement, inpatient care and hospital discharge; and
• Better management of surge capacity.

Ms Meagher said management strategies also needed to be developed at the Area Health Service and hospital level.

"Area Health Service Chief Executives will be directed to review current decision-making processes to remove unnecessary red-tape and impediments to providing appropriate infrastructure and support to Emergency Departments," Ms Meagher said.

"I look forward to working with the Taskforce members and their Emergency Department colleagues to find ways to move forward on the key issues of demand, workforce and better relationships with the Department of Health."

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au