If you are feeling unwell, you’ve been injured or you have unexpected medical issues that are not an emergency, there are other healthcare options that don’t involve a trip to the emergency department.
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Southern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Andrew Newton, said demand on hospital emergency departments continued to increase.
“While the number of people presenting to emergency departments with influenza remains low, our emergency departments are still very busy,” Mr Newton said.
“The Local Health District is managing this patient load very successfully but it’s important people understand that emergency departments must prioritise more urgent cases.
“There has been a steep jump in patients presenting with very urgent and critical illnesses, up by more than 11 per cent in June 2018 compared with the same time last year.”
Southern NSW Local Health District Northern General Manager, Denis Thomas said not all health issues needed to be treated in emergency departments.
“Emergency departments are very busy places and you might arrive to a longer than expected wait,” Mr Thomas said.
“Even when the waiting room is relatively empty, there might be high demand in the treatment area as patients who are acutely unwell often brought in by ambulance through a back entrance.
“All presentations to the emergency department are prioritised according to the severity of illness or injury, so someone who arrives after you may be seen before you.”
If you have flu like symptoms, it’s best to visit your GP in the first instance.
Please be patient while waiting, or seek one of the alternative health options.
In case of emergency, call 000 immediately.
