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EMERGENCY

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Patient care at Northern NSW emergency departments rated among best in NSW
Published: 04 May 2022

Amidst a challenging health environment and the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, health care staff at Northern NSW Emergency Departments (EDs) have been given a huge pat on the back from patients, according to the latest independent report.

The Emergency Department Patient Survey released today by the Bureau of Health Information shows patients attending Northern NSW Local Health District emergency departments reported high levels of confidence, trust and satisfaction during their visits to the ED from July 2020 - June 2021.

Across the District, almost all patients (92 per cent) rated their care as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.  The ED staff themselves were also given a high rating by patients, with more than nine in 10 patients (93 per cent) rating their treating health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

Both Maclean District Hospital and Murwillumbah District Hospital reported outstanding results across a number of important aspects of care, as did many other Northern NSW sites.

NNSWLHD Acting Chief Executive, Lynne Weir, said these results were a testament to the skilled work and compassion of staff during the pandemic.

“Coming to an emergency department during the pandemic was no doubt a more challenging experience for patients, as they would have encountered a changed environment, with added precautions in place to combat the highly transmissible COVID-19 virus,” Ms Weir said.

“Our health staff right across the District were able to continue to deliver outstanding care and make patients feel as comfortable as possible in the circumstances, highlighting the level of dedication and skills they bring to their profession.”

Eight in 10 patients (81 percent) in Northern NSW said they had confidence and trust in the ED health professionals, the highest recorded result of any health district.

NNSWLHD emergency departments also recorded the highest result for cleanliness in NSW for the third year running, with 85 per cent of respondents across the District saying the treatment area was ‘very clean’.

“I want to congratulate our domestic services and support staff for their professionalism and commitment to keeping our health facilities clean and hygienic for our patients and our staff, day after day. They do a fantastic job,” Ms Weir said.

The 2021-22 budget for Northern NSW Local Health District is more than $946 million, an increase of nearly $33 million, or 3.6 per cent more, than the previous year’s budget.

 

INDIVIDUAL HOSPITAL RESULTS

 

BALLINA DISTRICT HOSPITAL achieved very high ratings of care. Almost all patients (94 per cent) rated their treating health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.  Additionally, 87 per cent of patients said staff were ‘always’ kind and caring. More than eight in 10 patients (81 per cent) said the ED treatment area was ‘very clean’.

BYRON CENTRAL HOSPITAL was given the second highest cleanliness rating for any hospital in the state, with 96 per cent of patients saying the ED treatment area was ‘very clean’. Further, 87 per cent said staff were ‘always’ kind and caring. Additionally, 85 per cent of respondents said they ‘always’ had confidence and trust in the ED health professionals

CASINO & DISTRICT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: 84 per cent of patients said staff were ‘always’ kind and caring, while 91 per cent said the ED treatment area was ‘very clean’, a significant improvement on the previous year’s results.

GRAFTON BASE HOSPITAL had 89 per cent of patients saying staff were ‘always’ kind and caring, and 94 percent said they would rate their care in the ED as ‘very good’ or ‘good’. Further, 83 per cent of patients said the ED treatment area was ‘very clean’.

LISMORE BASE HOSPITAL: 83 per cent of patients said staff were ‘always’ kind and caring, while 89 per cent said the ED treatment area was ‘very clean’, a significant improvement on the previous year’s results. Nine in 10 patients (90 per cent) rated the overall care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

MACLEAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL: 92 per cent of patients said staff were ‘always’ kind and caring, the highest in the state. Almost all patients (94 per cent) said their overall care in the ED was ‘very good’ or ‘good’. More than eight in 10 patients (85 per cent) had confidence and trust in the ED health professionals, while 82 per cent said the ED treatment area was ‘very clean’.

 MURWILLUMBAH DISTRICT HOSPITAL: 91 per cent of ED patients said their care was ‘very good’ or ‘good’ – the percentage of patients rating their overall care as ‘very good’ (80 per cent) was the highest in the state. 91 per cent said the staff were ‘definitely’ polite and courteous. The majority of patients (88 per cent) said staff were ‘always’ kind and caring. Nearly all patients (88 per cent) said the ED treatment area was ‘very clean’. In total, Murwillumbah recorded 14 results across the 46 survey questions that were significantly higher than the NSW average.

THE TWEED HOSPITAL achieved high ratings of overall care, with almost all patients (96 per cent) saying the care they received was ‘very good’ or ‘good’. More than eight in 10 patients (84 per cent) said staff were ‘always’ kind and caring.