Emergency departments are already treating more than 630 patients a day across the Northern Rivers, with health authorities warning hospitals will become even busier in coming weeks.

Northern NSW’s hospitals are under growing winter pressure, with NSW Health issuing an unusually stark warning that emergency departments are already stretched and are expected to become even busier.

The Northern NSW Local Health District says its 12 emergency departments and Multi-Purpose Service sites treated an average of 636 patients a day during the week from July 27 to August 2 – 22 more patients every day than the same period last year.

In an extraordinary admission, the health district says it has activated a dedicated command centre to monitor hospital capacity and patient flows so it can redirect patients by ambulance to hospitals with available beds.

Executive Director of Clinical Operations Lynne Weir said the pressure was expected to continue.

“Our hospitals across Northern NSW are extremely busy this winter, and we are expecting them to get busier over coming weeks,” Ms Weir said.

She urged anyone with non-life-threatening conditions to consider alternatives before heading to hospital emergency departments.

“If your condition is not life-threatening, please consider calling Healthdirect for fast and free health advice.”

The Patient Flow Unit works alongside NSW Ambulance and the NSW Health System Operations Command Centre in Sydney, identifying hospitals experiencing heavy demand and arranging for suitable patients to be taken to facilities with spare capacity where possible.

The district says it has also increased inpatient capacity, strengthened discharge planning and expanded community-based and virtual healthcare services in preparation for what is shaping as another difficult winter.

When should you go to Emergency?

Go to an emergency department or call 000 for:

• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Signs of stroke
• Serious injuries
• Heavy bleeding
• Severe allergic reactions
• Any life-threatening emergency

For less serious illnesses or injuries, NSW Health recommends:

• Your GP
• Healthdirect (1800 022 222)
• Medicare Urgent Care Clinics at Goonellabah or Tweed Heads
  

Healthy North Coast CEO Monika Wheeler urged residents to take simple steps to reduce pressure on hospitals by getting vaccinated against influenza, staying home when sick and wearing a mask if they need to leave home while unwell.

She also reminded residents that Medicare Urgent Care Clinics at Tweed Heads and Goonellabah offer free treatment for many illnesses and injuries that do not require an emergency department visit.

The clinics are open from 7am to 9pm every day without appointments and can treat conditions including respiratory illnesses, gastroenteritis, minor infections, cuts, sprains, burns, bites, rashes, eye and ear infections.

Patients can also phone Healthdirect on 1800 022 222, where registered nurses can assess symptoms and direct callers to the most appropriate service.

Health authorities stressed that anyone experiencing a life-threatening emergency should continue to call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Main Photo: Nurse Coordinators Tanya Casanova, Erica Wells and Rachel Dunstan, District Manager for Access, Patient Flow and Virtual Care, at the Northern NSW LHD Patient Flow Unit Command Centre. (Photo:NSW Health)