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Canberra Today 12°/16° | Saturday, March 30, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

ACT hospitals struggling to meet demand

THE ACT’s emergency departments and hospitals are still extremely busy, with high numbers of covid and non-covid patients as well as staff off with illness.

Canberra Health Services Chief Operating Officer Cathie O’Neill says hospitals are seeing high numbers of covid and non-covid patients, while facing workface challenges with many team members also unwell.

“If you need to come to the emergency department please do, but if your need for care is not urgent then please consider the alternatives,” said Ms O’Neill.

According to Health Services, other options for urgent but non-life threatening care include:

  • General Practitioners
  • Walk-In Centres
  • CALMS – 1300 422 567
  • National Home Doctor Service – 137 425
  • Healthdirect – 1800 022 222

The emergency departments triage process means the most urgent patients are seen first, so those whose condition is less urgent will experience longer waits.

The high demand and bed pressure is expected to continue in coming months.

Starting tomorrow (June 24), and lasting until 10pm on August 3, the Tuggeranong Walk-In Centre will operate on reduced hours, opening from 2pm to 10pm rather than 7:30am to 10pm.

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One Response to ACT hospitals struggling to meet demand

Greg Hollands says: 23 June 2022 at 2:34 pm

Of course, this increase in activity is entirely unanticipated at this time of the year isn’t it? Where is the “plan” to deal with this regular uptick in activity?

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