Shocking Stats Reveal 1 in 4 Patients in NSW Emergency Rooms Could Have Seen a GP Instead
New data shows a growing crisis in NSW as emergency departments face record pressure from patients lacking GP access
NSW, Australia, Emergency Departments, GP Shortage, Health Minister
Sydney: Recent stats have really shone a light on the GP crisis in New South Wales. It turns out that one in four folks showing up at emergency departments would have gone to a GP if they could have found one.
The Bureau of Health Information found that 28% of patients in emergency rooms said they had no choice but to go to the hospital. They just couldn’t find a bulk-billing doctor or get an appointment in time.
More and more people with minor issues are heading to hospitals because they can’t find a doctor. It’s putting a huge strain on the system, with nearly 16,000 more emergency visits this past September compared to last year.
NSW Ambulance services are also feeling the heat, responding to over 385,000 calls, which is a record high. Health Minister Ryan Park has pointed out that this GP shortage is really stressing out hospitals.
He mentioned that the federal government’s freeze on Medicare rebates is a big part of the problem. It’s going to take time to fix this mess, and in the meantime, people are left with few options.
Despite the challenges, the NSW government is trying to help. They’re investing in ways to ease the pressure on emergency departments and create other care options outside of hospitals.
Interestingly, even though more people are going to the ER, the number of semi-urgent and non-urgent cases has actually dropped. About 102,000 patients were directed away from emergency rooms through a phone service that connects them with nurses.
That’s a big jump from last year, and the state government is also rolling out a relief package to help. They’re putting money into virtual care services and offering incentives for GPs to bulk-bill, hoping to ease the burden on hospitals.