The Bureau of Health Information (BHI) Healthcare report found during the quarter from April to June, 2017 there was an increase in attendance at the hospital but a decrease in median wait times. 

A total of 4,775 people accessed the emergency department during the period. 

The number of emergency presentations (chest pain, severe burns) decreased this year to 356 patients with the median time to start treatment sitting at eight minutes- the same time as this period last year.

Urgent (moderate blood loss, dehydration) presentations increased to 1504 patients as did non-urgent (small cuts, abrasions) to 696, however wait times dropped one and two minutes respectively. This took wait times to 18 and 17 minutes, below the NSW averages of 20 and 23 minutes. 

Semi-urgent patients (sprained ankle, earache) however, suffered an increase in wait times from 19 to 20 minutes. 

A South Western Sydney Local Health District spokesperson said these figures were encouraging. 

“Nearly 80 per cent of ED patients (78.6 per cent) started their treatment within the clinically recommended time frame compared to the same period in 2011, when 66.7 per cent patients were treated within the time frame.”

More than 80 (82.6) per cent of patients spent four hours or less in the ED, down 0.7 per cent from the same period last year.

There was no change however, in the transfer of care time for patients arriving by ambulance. The median time stayed the same as last year at 11 minutes. 

Of the 4775 patients who attended the emergency department, 77.3 per cent were treated and discharged, 16.3 per cent were admitted to hospital, 2.1 per cent left the hospital before treatment and 4.2 per cent were transferred to another hospital. 

The report found 100 per cent of all elective surgeries were performed within the clinically recommended time frame, however the South Western Sydney Local Health District spokesperson has reminded people to see their GP for minor medical issues. 

“We continue to encourage all people to see their GP for minor medical matters, such as minor cuts and abrasions, and come to the ED for serious medical issues.”