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Busiest Day Ever At Waikato Emergency Department
Busiest Day Ever At Waikato Emergency Department
Waikato Hospital's Emergency Department had its busiest day ever yesterday with almost 200 patients seen in a 24-hour period illustrated by a surge of alcohol-related injuries.
Staff assessed and treated 191 patients from midnight Sunday.
There were no major trauma cases so ED clinical nurse manager Jenni Yeates put the busy day down to an increased number of people in the city.
"It was a huge day for us. We had an increased number of young people and alcohol related injuries which is probably all the events happening in the city with (Waikato University) O-week.
"We had some very unwell patients but there were some people who could have gone to their GP and saved themselves a long wait."
There were 73 admissions to hospital wards from the 191 seen * a conversion rate of 38 per cent.
Ms Yeates said the department usually sees an average of 160 people each day with 40 per cent of them admitted.
"Monday is normally our busiest day anyway but yesterday the patients just kept coming.
"We've already had 113 people through the department today (as at 5pm) too so it's looking like today's total won't be much less," she said.
Ms Yeates said ED staff coped extremely well and commended them for their hard work.
She said that the hospital is always looking at ways it can control the chaotic nature of the department.
This includes changes in the triage process, already implemented as part of the hospital's patient streamline project with patients who don't need a bed kept in the waiting room and assessed while they wait.
Ms Yeates said this new system keeps the ED beds for those in greater need.
"Instead of having patients triaged and then sit on a bed until they leave, they'll be given a cubicle to be assessed in and then moved back into the waiting room.
"They'll still have the usual length of stay but things will be happening while they are waiting such as tests taken and vital signs checked regularly.
"The intention is that all the necessary information such as test results will be on-hand when the doctor is available."
Over the next month, changes to the waiting room will become evident as the current area changes into a clinical space for the triaged patients.
"A new waiting area, just outside of ED, will be for those who are waiting to be assessed," Ms Yeates said.
ends
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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