Independent health statistics released today record Wollongong Hospital as having the longest emergency department waiting times outside of Sydney.
40.1% of patients who presented to Wollongong Hospital ED during July to September 2016 were forced to wait longer than four hours for treatment.
The figure for this quarter was up from 38.7 per cent at the same time last year.
Wollongong Hospital has the seventh longest ED waiting times in NSW.
Wollongong Hospital ED saw nearly 200 extra presentations during July to September 2016 than the same period last year.
Bureau of Health Information (BHI) statistics show that Wollongong Hospital’s ED saw an increase in emergency presentations in nearly all triage categories during July to September 2016:
- Resuscitation – up nearly 40%
- Emergency – up 9.3%
- Urgent – up nearly 5%.
Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:
“The statistics released today show that Wollongong Hospital is under significant pressure.
“Too many patients who present to the Wollongong Hospital ED are being forced to wait four hours and longer for treatment.
“Wollongong Hospital has the longest emergency waiting times outside of Sydney.
“The Government’s secretive plans to privatise Shellharbour Hospital will place additional pressure on Wollongong Hospital.”
