Help our emergency departments

June 2022

Emergency departments in CESPHN are under significant pressure

A growing number of patients with respiratory illnesses are presenting to EDs in our region. We are encouraging patients with respiratory symptoms to be seen by a GP when required, especially the elderly and children.

To try and reduce unnecessary burden on our EDs, GPs should facilitate either telehealth or in person consultation for patients with respiratory symptoms. When in person consultation is indicated, the patient should be given a surgical mask and hand sanitiser and practice staff should wear eye protection and a mask.

Minimum recommended testing for RAT negative symptomatic patients is COVID-19/influenza A/respiratory syncytial virus. Please consider early antiviral treatment for high risk patients with confirmed influenza or COVID-19.

GPs should consider winter preparedness activities to ensure the health and safety of your patients and practice team. The Winter Planning Toolkit developed by the RACGP is a great resource and we encourage its use: winter-planning-toolkit.