It is beneficial that the GEDI team exists within the ED administrative and governance structures. If it sits outside this structure, the risk is that the GEDI service will not be ‘owned’ by the ED, lines of responsibility and communication will be disrupted, and GEDI may be seen as a visiting service instead of an integral part of the department. GEDI service governance within the ED ensures that the:
- Aims and objectives align with those of the ED
- Intervention is resourced appropriately from within the ED
- Future planning for ED service delivery considers the GEDI role.
However, there is can be some challenges associated with ED based governance which need to be considered and mitigated. The utilisation of ED nurses to fulfil the GEDI nursing roles will provide temptation in times of ED nursing staff shortage to ‘pull’ these nurses from the GEDI role to ED nursing roles. This resource shifting will create gaps in the availability of the service and the perception that the service is not important. It may be helpful to establish a separate cost centre to quarantine funds allocated to the service.
