Wairau Hospital ED redirecting non-emergency cases

Wairau Hospital Emergency Department redirecting non-emergency cases

Wairau Hospital Emergency Department is asking people arriving there with non-emergency conditions to see their GPs instead.

Clinical Head of Emergency Dr Andrew Morgan said the department had started a redirection programme as part of an on-going effort to promote a culture shift around the way people access the ED in Marlborough.

A lot of people are still going to the ED when they need to see a GP or other primary health professional, he said.

While this was a problem around the country presentation statistics reveal a particular Marlborough disposition to go to ED. There are 490 presentations per 1000 people at Wairau Hospital’s ED annually, compared to Nelson’s 280 per 1000 and a national average of 250 per 1000.

Under the redirection system, patients are still assessed by a triage nurse on arrival at the department. If their condition is not an emergency, a nurse will phone the person’s GP and try to get them an appointment within a reasonable time frame.

“I understand that at times patients may be frustrated by the inconvenience and may even disagree with this outcome, but we do our best to ensure that the system is robust and makes the right decisions,” Dr Morgan said.

“We would ask the community to please work with us on this, as in the long run having people treated at the right place is in the interests of both the patients and the community,” he said.

Dr Rod Bird of Springlands Health said Marlborough had a very good emergency department at Wairau hospital.

“In order for them to do their job well it is important that time is not taken up treating conditions that are better managed elsewhere, such as minor injuries and illnesses not in immediate need of hospital treatment.”

Wairau Hospital Emergency Department charge nurse manager Sharon North said she supported the redirection process. While some patients may have been seen at the ED for minor conditions in the past, they would now be assisted to make an appointment with a GP.

The ED deliberately provided privacy for patients, but this meant that those in the waiting room were sometimes under the misunderstanding that the department was not very busy. They could not see the important work going on behind walls, especially when an ambulance brought in critically ill people, she said.

Dr Morgan said it was especially important that people saved the ED for emergencies while earthquake-strengthening work was underway in the Arthur Wicks building where the department is based. However, the redirection programme would have been introduced regardless of this work. It was part of a wider project started last year to reduce the number of people who go to the ED when they require a different health service.

It was recognised that community culture was just one of a raft of reasons why people might go to the emergency department rather than a GP, including not being able to enrol at a general practice or not getting an appointment as quickly as they felt they needed it. For some cost was a factor.

Most GP clinics have some appointments free for acute cases each day. Anyone who could not find a GP to enrol with should call the Primary Health Organisation.

Dr Morgan said: “We started out last year by encouraging the public to think carefully about where they needed to be when they had a health issue.”

He thanked those who had taken the message on board, and said he hoped the message would continue to filter through the Marlborough community.

Options for health advice in Marlborough

What are my options?

Healthline: Ring 0800 611 116 for advice from a registered nurse.

Pharmacists: For advice, a range of pharmacy-only medicines, the morning-after pill, emergency supplies of on-going prescription medicines and first aid.

Your GP: Most GP clinics have some same-day appointments available for acute cases or you can get advice from the Practice Nurse.

Marlborough Urgent GP After Hours clinic: In the hospital grounds off Hospital Rd, Blenheim. Open from 6pm to 10pm on weekdays and 8am to 10pm on weekends and public holidays.

After hours dentist: Ring Wairau Hospital at the weekend and ask for on-call dentist’s contact details. 03 5209999

In a medical emergency call 111

ENDS

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