Canberra hospitals: 608 patients stuck in ED over 24 hours
Emergency physicians in Canberra are raising concerns about the high number of patients spending over 24 hours in emergency departments due to a lack of inpatient beds. While the ACT has seen some improvement in these wait times, experts warn that the issue remains a national crisis that requires systemic action.
Why it matters
Extended emergency department wait times pose significant health risks to vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, and highlight systemic capacity issues in public healthcare.
It shouldn't be happening in Australian hospitals at all, according to emergency physician Sam Scanlan.
All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All other regional websites in your area Continue Each year, hundreds of sick and injured people are stuck in Canberra public emergency departments for more than 24-hours, usually due to a lack of available beds in hospital wards.
Australasian College of Emergency Medicine ACT branch chair Sam Scanlan. Picture by Elesa Kurtz The majority of the patients are older people.
"Twenty-four hour stays should be a never, ever event," Dr Scanlan, ACT branch chair of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine, said.
"Imagine what that would be like as an individual, let alone the family looking after that person."
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