MORE than $2 million will be spent expanding Warrnambool Base Hospital’s emergency department with a new short-stay unit and extra radiology facilities.
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The department’s entrance will be re-configured with a new four-bed short-stay unit to be built in front of the existing waiting room. As well, a storage area will be renovated to house a new general X-ray room and an additional ultrasound room.
It is hoped the extra beds will improve the hospital’s triage times and create extra nursing and radiology positions.
Premier and member for South West Coast Denis Napthine announced $2.27 million of state government funds, saying the short-stay unit would free up cubicals in the emergency department.
“Say, for instance, a footballer comes in after being knocked out on the footy field. They are examined and no major fractures or injuries are found but the doctors want to observe them for a few hours to be safe,” Dr Napthine said.
“Rather than taking up a cubical in the emergency department, they can relocate to the short-stay unit and be kept under observation for a few hours, freeing up a cubical in emergency. These new beds will mean they can stay under observation for up to 24 hours, receiving important medical attention for their condition.”
South West Healthcare chief executive officer John Krygger said the only two indicators the hospital continually failed to deliver on were triage categories for the emergency department (ED).
“We know waiting times are greater than they should be. This expansion will help address this issue,” Mr Krygger said. “We are required to discharge each patient through the ED in four hours, but for some it’s extremely difficult because they are waiting on diagnostic results or because they are undergoing observation.
“This four-bed ward will provide an optimal environment for those patients.”
Mr Krygger said the hospital board had been aware performance indicators in the Emergency department had been lagging for two years.
“We put in funding submissions 15 months ago, hadn’t heard anything for some time,” he said.
“More than 500 patients a week are treated through ED.
“It’s very busy department and we need to ensure those patients are looked after as well as we possibly can.”
Work is expected to begin in the middle of 2015.
jwoolley@fairfaxmedia.com.au