On the Friday before last, I spent what seemed like a few hours in Emergency, it was full, and there was also a line of people on Ambulance stretchers.
While they were working through those waiting, the steady stream of people coming in didn't reduce the numbers waiting over the time I was there.
Some people in Emergency didn't appear that they really needed to be in Emergency.
Using Emergency instead of a GP adds to the strains already on Emergency departments.
Anyway, when I actually got seen, I was impressed with the care and treatment I got.
Admitted Friday, operated on on Sunday, and released on Monday.
No complaints, and appreciated everything they did.
Would I use their service again? Only if I had to.
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From your article:-
In more than 200 of those hospital beds, patients were ready for discharge, but waiting on the NDIS to approve care plans and disability supports so they could be sent home safely.
Discharge delays of up to 625 days among those NDIS participants meant hundreds of emergency department patients couldn't get access to inpatient care.
The Victorian government said it was working with the NDIS on individual cases to reduce delays in the discharge process.
On any given day, more than 2,000 nurses are off work across the state as they struggle to deal with COVID, flu and burnout.
Mr McCallum said some days hospitals were trying to get agencies to fill 50 per cent of nursing shifts and beds that were desperately needed were being closed because there were not enough nurses to staff them.
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said last month's budget included $12 billion for the health system.
"With COVID and now with pressure from the influenza winter surge we are seeing, with elective surgery comebacks, with deferred care and furloughed staff our system is under pressure like it has never been before," he said.
This year's Victorian Budget included funding for up to 7,000 new health workers, but it will take time to recruit and train the staff.
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