More beds to help patient flow

DANDENONG Hospital will open 12 new beds to meet winter demand.
Health Minister David Davis yesterday (Wednesday) announced that the extra beds would improve patient flow through the Emergency Department, including timely transfers from ambulances.
They’ll be available to treat emergency patients while they’re waiting for ward beds.
The announcement followed claims in State Parliament late last month that Dandenong Hospital was using a waiting room as a makeshift treatment space to cope with the number of patients arriving by ambulance.
Dandenong MP John Pandazopoulos said the space had no oxygen or other clinical facilities.
A Dandenong Hospital spokesperson said the Emergency Department was committed to providing high quality care for its patients in partnership with Ambulance Victoria.
“During winter there are increased demands placed on emergency departments across the state,” they said.
“As always, patient safety is our main priority.
“Recently we have introduced new initiatives in collaboration with Ambulance Victoria and supported by the Department of Health to help offload patients more quickly.
“These initiatives include the appointment of an ambulance offload nurse who liaises with the nurse in charge to identify a suitable available cubicle in the ED.
“In addition the appointment of a waiting room nurse to help with early assessment and treatment and ongoing timely reassessments within triage category wait times.”