Divisional operations director of access and investigative services Emma Bryden-Brown said while respiratory illnesses continued to drive presentations, the service was seeing improvements in key areas.
“Since the introduction of the Standards for Safe and Timely Ambulance and Emergency Care by the Victorian Government in February, we’ve worked hard to reduce the time patients arriving by ambulance have until their care is transferred to staff in the Emergency Department,” she said.
“Now, patients arriving by ambulance are being transferred faster and patients are moving into and through the Emergency Department quicker, especially compared with last winter.
“Last year, when demand on our services rose, it was harder to get things back on track.
“This year we’ve been able to manage patient flow more smoothly, helping people reach the care they need faster.”
A major contributor has been GV Health’s upgraded Transit Lounge, which opened on June 2 with funding through the Timely Emergency Care Collaborative.
The Transit Lounge provides a comfortable space for patients who are medically ready for discharge but waiting for paperwork, medication or transport.
“About 40 per cent of our inpatients now leave through the Transit Lounge,” Ms Bryden-Brown said.
“That frees up hospital beds earlier in the day, supports inpatient ward workflows and creates a positive experience for patients heading home.”
For patients such as Rose Henderson, the difference has been striking.
“After a stint in ED surrounded by all the busyness, it was such a nice feeling to move to the Transit Lounge knowing I was going home,” she said.
“With the big windows I could see the sun shining and watch normal life going by.
“I felt like I was in the Qantas lounge waiting for a flight to Bali.”
GV Health reminds the community that people with non-urgent needs should consider their GP, urgent care centres or the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, while life-threatening emergencies should always come straight to ED.
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