Public hospital system..A real eye opener

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Originally Posted by Eevo

depending on the casualty of the person in the in the ambo.

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I'm not sure where you're coming from with this comment.

A ATS Category 1 will be seen immediately whether they arrive via ambulance, helicopter or through the front door. Similarly an ATS Cat 2 will be treated within 10 minutes irrespective of mode of arrival, however if the Hospital is on by-pass the ambulances bypass to another hospital unless Cat 1 (and sometimes even on cat 1).

If there are no beds in the ED, an ambulance arrival will wait under the care of the ambulance paramedics until a bed becomes available or the patient is sent to the waiting room. A Cat 2 arriving through the front door will get a bed usually before a Cat 2 arriving by ambulance at the same time.

Remember this is my profession an ED Clinical Manager before being transferred to administration (Clinical Governance).

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Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

I'm not sure where you're coming from with this comment.

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going by the rest of what you have said, a lot has changed in 5 years. or its different in SA hospitals

My daughter is a type 1 diabetic and has jujst gone through a pregnancy. Twice she went to casualty dept with very high sugar levels which she could not reduce at home. Believe me she never had time to sit down but was whisked straight in for treatment. Nurses and drs were the best. Jim:D:D

It all depends on peoples idea of an emergency if you go into an ED with a stubbed toe and think its life threatening your in for a long wait. Some people will always slip through the system and wait to long but I don't know of a health care system of our size any where in the world that works better or too the standard that we have:):)

We do have systems in place to stop people falling through the cracks but EDs nationwide are being stretched to breaking point. Mistakes happen.

I have no doubt that sometimes people arriving via ambulance get seen a little quicker than others, but it is also the case that ambulance arrivals often get walked out to the waiting room. It will be a kick in the pants for the patient when they get the bill and still waited for hours in the waiting room.

In country areas, where there are limited ambulances available to cover large regions the ED will try to work with the ambos and empty their stretcher quickly. But don't count on it.

Diana, do you still cringe at the sound of a siren?
My mate still does!

I received a text this morning asking what was going on as there were sirens everywhere and as a consequence her adrenaline had ramped up, even though I was in a cafe in my home village 40km away at the time.
Luckily a quick call to my RFS Captain revealed it was just a diesel spill in the main street of town.
Stress levels in the ED instantly lowered! :D

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Originally Posted by rick130

Diana, do you still cringe at the sound of a siren?
My mate still does!
...! :D

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No but the sound of a Telstra Touchfone 2000 does! Thats the one they use as the "Bat Phone" from Ambulance Control.

Like the time "Lifesaver 1" was hovering 500 feet above the landing pad at 3.00am demanding we turn on the landing lights. All go from then for the next hour or so.

Do people realise that when they are still on an Ambulance stretcher, they haven't actually arrived in the ED. :eek:

Ive just been silly and cut half a digit and brocken a bone.3 weeks ago.

the problem only starts when you go to hospital.memorise you birth date.write it on your head.

I went to the GP that attached my finger then was driven to hospital.

Emergency saw me in a few minutes---and took a few hours doing paper work to cover their arse--one lot incase of workcover-another as private patient.--------

then--2 days of nil by mouth waiting for a spot in the que.

and older gent took my spot--needed it--also took my name tags.

then my return to my bed--the plan was to move me to another ward--to discharge me.

then visit to GP-and specialist--suppling notes by memory to workcover-as it takes weeks to get them from hospital.my case manager works one day a week-my GP ticked the totally disabled box.

I just had 2 week holidays in NZ--and the paper work has just arrived today.

I have an appointment with specialist on the 9th..but ive runout of medication.

On Workcover, you should have been able to go to a private hospital, but then again I don't know if I'd trust the care being in a .....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

I'm not sure where you're coming from with this comment.

A ATS Category 1 will be seen immediately whether they arrive via ambulance, helicopter or through the front door. Similarly an ATS Cat 2 will be treated within 10 minutes irrespective of mode of arrival, however if the Hospital is on by-pass the ambulances bypass to another hospital unless Cat 1 (and sometimes even on cat 1).

If there are no beds in the ED, an ambulance arrival will wait under the care of the ambulance paramedics until a bed becomes available or the patient is sent to the waiting room. A Cat 2 arriving through the front door will get a bed usually before a Cat 2 arriving by ambulance at the same time.

Remember this is my profession an ED Clinical Manager before being transferred to administration (Clinical Governance).

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Might be the way it is supposed to be but last time with a friend he came in by ambo's. They left him with me out the back awaiting to be seen. 3 hours later triage nurse asked him to walk to the cubicle. He slurred Ican't stand so they left him untill he had a second seisure just as the resus nurse walked out. 30 seconds later and he is being wired up and was never seen by triage.
Turned out to be a micro stroke but his blood pressure wasoff the chart and even I pointed out a few times that he couldn't speak.

My experiences have been good but then we ring first then drive to Yass to be seen. If they send us on thebn it's by ambulance or give us the notes and send us in while ringing ahead so you get to ED in Canberra to a response of yes we are expecting you come this way.