04 December 2007

Study shows holidays often mean a visit to the emergency department

NSW Minister for Health, Reba Meagher, today said it was no surprise that public hospital emergency departments experience their busiest time of the year over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Ms Meagher said the first study of the impact of the holiday period on hospital emergency departments reinforced anecdotal evidence that emergency department attendances increased significantly at this time of the year.

"The study of emergency department attendance data for each summer holiday period between January 2001 and January 2006 shows there was 9 per cent overall increase in the number of emergency department visits each week during the holiday period compared with other times of the year," Ms Meagher said.

"At a time when our emergency departments are experiencing significant increases in year-round activity, this sort of increase in demand at peak holiday times is particularly challenging."

The greatest increases were recorded in patients with less serious illnesses and injuries (15 per cent), patients who were treated in the ED without needing hospital admission (14 per cent), non-ambulance arrivals (12 per cent) and patients who required short treatment (19 per cent).

The number of people attending emergency departments during the holiday period is also increasing. Last summer, emergency departments across NSW treated 313,456 patients over the December and January - an increase of 48,267 over the previous year.

Ms Meagher said public hospital emergency departments were often used to 'fill the gap' over busy holiday periods when the availability of General Practitioners was reduced.

"This study shows that the greatest increases were among those patients with less serious complaints - patients who might otherwise have gone to their GP or community medical centre," Ms Meagher said.

"Area Health Services continue to work with the Divisions of General Practice across NSW to better manage demand across the public hospitals and GP facilities during holiday periods. And planning for busy holiday periods is something our emergency departments do each year."

Ms Meagher said while emergency department activity increased over the holiday period, there was a reduction in demand for elective surgery.

"The Christmas-New Year period is a very popular time for holidays and we generally find that people choose not to schedule their elective surgery during this time," Ms Meagher said.

"This reduction in demand for elective surgery allows many of our hospitals to undertake vital maintenance work in operating theatres.
"This year, two operating theatres at St Vincent's Hospital will be completely refurbished during the holiday period, air conditioning work will be undertaken at Concord and Shoalhaven hospitals and essential work will be carried out at Liverpool Hospital's sterilising unit.

"But is important to note that public hospital emergency departments never close and this maintenance work has no impact on emergency surgery. Patients needing emergency treatment or emergency surgery will always been seen in our public hospitals."

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