The Young District Hospital Emergency Department [ED] treated more than 270 patients over the Christmas-New Year period, many needing attention at a high triage level.
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The total number of presentations to the Young District Hospital for the period December 24, 2017, to January 1, 2018, was 277.
For the same period last year, the number of presentations was higher at 330.
But Young District Hospital Facility Manager Wendy Dewar said although there were more presentations in 2016-17 than 2017-18, this was not an accurate reflection of the intensity or acuity of nursing care that was provided by hospital staff.
"Many patients in the 2017-18 period required greater triage care with three patients presenting with chest pains and respiratory distress," she said.
"Treatment at this higher triage level also included care for a patient suffering trauma from a motor vehicle accident, a patient with a head injury from a fall and various wounds and lacerations.
"A large percentage of presentations related to gastroenteritis, tonsillitis and other flu-like symptoms.
"There were six babies born during the week of Christmas/New Year, and staff were very busy during this time but coped extremely well with the high demand due to great teamwork and staff morale."
Ms Dewar said the Young hospital ED has a great team of nurses and doctors.
"I am extremely proud of the level of care that was provided to our community and I would like to thank each staff member who worked very hard to achieve this," she said. "I would also like to thank Doctor Chetan Valabjee who was the doctor on-duty during this period. "
Here is a snapshot of some of the patients the Young hospital ED treated:
- 19 soft tissue injuries
- Nine head injuries
- Ten fractures-ankle, crush injuries, arm fracture
- Nine mental health presentations
- Six patients transferred to other hospitals for higher level care- ankle fracture, meningitis, elbow fracture, suicidal ideation and pregnancy-related.