Emergency departments across New South Wales are continuing to experience sustained pressure, with new data showing rising patient numbers and longer waiting times across the state’s public hospitals.
Figures from the Bureau of Health Information’s latest Healthcare Quarterly report indicate nearly 800,000 emergency department presentations between January and March. The report also shows an increase in the number of patients arriving with serious or life-threatening conditions compared with the same period last year.
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association general secretary Michael Whaites said the mix of higher patient volumes and more complex cases is placing considerable strain on frontline staff.
He noted increases across triage categories one, two and three, with urgent cases rising by close to 10,000 over the quarter. He also pointed to longer stays in emergency departments, with patients who were admitted or transferred waiting an average of 9 hours and 4 minutes, an increase of around 50 minutes.
Whaites said staffing levels were being stretched as demand continues to rise, adding that upcoming winter pressures could place further strain on the system. He called for continued investment in the public health workforce and the expansion of nurse-to-patient ratios across all wards and units.
Around 80 emergency departments in NSW have already begun recruiting under the ratios program, with medical and surgical wards expected to follow as part of the broader rollout.
NSWNMA assistant general secretary Katrina Bough said hospitals were also dealing with growing demand for inpatient care. She pointed to a rise in overnight admissions and extended stays, with average non-acute overnight care now reaching 20 days, the highest level recorded.
Bough said bed shortages, particularly linked to delays in transferring elderly patients to residential aged care facilities, were adding pressure across the system and contributing to delays in patient flow through hospitals.
She also noted some positive movement in elective surgery, with more procedures completed on time and a reduction in waiting lists compared with the same period last year.
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