The second annual Winter Beds Strategy is set to boost Queensland’s public hospital capacity to help manage the anticipated surge in presentations during the winter months.
The $15 million strategy will be targeted at preventing congested emergency departments, instances of ambulance ramping, and delays in patients being transferred from ambulances during the winter months. During this time, emergency departments generally see an increase in presentations, coinciding with peak influenza season and an increase in respiratory illnesses.
Deputy Director-General Clinical Excellence Division Dr John Wakefield said the strategy was a multi-pronged approach. "The strategy recgonises both the essential nature of emergency care and that this care is provided in an increasingly challenging environment. But we are committed to working with our partners to ensure equitable and timely access to emergency department care for all Queenslanders."
"We recognise our staff are being challenged particularly during winter by increased demand and staff sick leave and fatigue, so this strategy is designed to support their hard work," Dr Wakefield said.
The strategy outlines seven key actions:
- Provide $15 million, including a significant investment into additional capacity at the Mater, to support hospitals and health services most impacted by winter to implement additional capacity management strategies.
- Provide access to an extra 90 beds to provide surge capacity in areas of high demand.
- Develop and enact Annual Patient Flow and Capacity Plans (including winter bed initiatives) in all Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) across Queensland.
- Provide funding for dedicated nursing resources to support patient flow in our busiest emergency departments.
- Continue to utilise private sector capacity through the $20 million Surgery Connect program.
- Continue a communication strategy and marketing plan to promote influenza vaccination for the general population and those individuals at an increased risk of complications as a result of influenza infection.
- Provide a quality improvement payment for staff influenza vaccination to improve voluntary influenza vaccination uptake amongst Hospital and Health Service staff.
Dr Wakefield said the plan complemented the South East Queensland Emergency Access Care Plan which the Clinical Excellence Division is also helping to deliver.
