Beat Medical Blog

Doctors responsible for Emergency Department return rates?

Posted by Beat Medical

In this SMH article published last weekend, there is an interesting commentary on emergency department return rates.

Whilst the health service responded highlighting the aging population as a major factor, the State opposition highlighted that there are many parts of the Garling report which have not been addressed - thus causing major issues in the health services.

Many of our 'inside sources' tell us that the truth is somewhere halfway between the two responses.

As a locum agency placing doctors in emergency departments, we consistently receive feedback that emergency departments are not rostered with an appropriate mix of medical staff. That is, not only are junior staff rostered on at night - on their own, there is often little backup for them to call on when the worst happens. In some cases, there is a huge imbalance between senior doctors and junior doctors. At other times, there is no doctor at all.

I imagine at this time that there are a number of health service managers being pushed to provide a response to the adverse media publicity - what do you think the likely explanation will be? Will the doctors be to blame?

Let us know your thoughts.