Providing timely care remains at the heart of our work, and it was encouraging to see continued improvement across several key emergency department access measures during April 2026. In particular, more patients are being seen within recommended timeframes for Triage 2 and Triage 3 presentations, and performance has also improved for timely admissions to Emergency Department Short Stay Units (EDSSUs).

The Taskforce reviewed performance across six key indicators:

Members discussed the challenges that can affect performance, including diagnostic turnaround times, patient transport availability, and patient flow across hospitals. Importantly, there was strong discussion about practical solutions that are making a difference, including fast-track models of care, enhanced use of EDSSUs, earlier senior clinical decision-making, multidisciplinary approaches to care, nurse-led discharge initiatives, and technology-enabled discharge planning.

The Taskforce also received an update on the Sydney Triage and Admission Risk Tool (START), an innovative initiative designed to identify patients who are likely to require admission as early as the triage stage.

Early results are promising, with the tool demonstrating around 80 per cent accuracy in predicting admissions. By providing clinicians with earlier insights, START is helping support timely decision-making and more proactive planning across the patient's healthcare journey.

Building on this success, the next phase of development - START AI - is now underway.

START AI will incorporate additional clinical information to further strengthen admission risk assessment and support a broader range of care pathways. This includes Hospital in the Home (HITH), discharge planning, and inter-hospital transfers.

The enhanced tool will also provide earlier visibility of patient demand, helping emergency departments and inpatient teams plan and respond more effectively.

This is an exciting step forward in harnessing data and technology to improve patient care and operational performance across NSW.

ED Short Stay Units continue to play a vital role in improving patient flow and creating additional capacity across the health system.

The Taskforce noted several positive achievements:

Members acknowledged the valuable contribution EDSSUs make in supporting patients to receive the right care in the right place at the right time. The importance of flexible local models of care was also highlighted, with ongoing work to refine EDSSU performance measures and targets.

Thank you to everyone across the system who continues to contribute to these improvements. Your commitment, innovation and collaboration are helping to strengthen patient flow, improve access to care, and deliver better outcomes for patients across NSW.