The St George and Sutherland public hospitals are urging people in the area to use their GPs where possible over winter, rather than resort to the emergency department.
St George Hospital emergency department senior staff specialist Peter Grant said the emergency departments should be kept for people with real emergencies.
People suffering from conditions such as vomiting, coughs and colds, sore throats and headaches are asked to visit their GP or an after-hours medical service.
“There are many alternatives to seeking treatment,” Dr Grant said.
“And going directly to an appropriate practitioner can help you to a quicker recovery, improved follow up, and better continuity of care.
“This also helps free up our emergency services to run as efficiently as possible.”
He said during peak seasons the emergency departments can get overrun.
“At peak times, especially over holiday periods and during winter months, the emergency department workload can be very high.
“We need to make sure that we are able to see people quickly if they need emergency care.”
St George Hospital is a major trauma centre and is one of the busiest emergency departments in NSW. Meanwhile, Sutherland Hospital receives a regular intake of patients visiting the emergency department for conditions which could be treated through alternate services.
Sutherland Hospital department of emergency medicine director Andrew Finckh said there were plenty of other options when your GP is closed.
“Members of the public have always recognised that the emergency department is for those with genuine emergencies. However, they are not always aware of what alternatives are available, especially when their own GP is closed,” Dr Finckh said.
“It’s important for people to have their own GP. Having your own GP will be of benefit to you and will provide expert health care. A GP has a general knowledge about a range of different medical problems.”
Dr Finckh said, of course, for those who were experiencing serious symptoms, they should certainly visit an emergency department.
“It’s important to stress that people who are experiencing heart and breathing problems or who feel they need urgent medical attention should always attend their closest emergency department or call 000.”
Other options:
- When your local GP is closed, people can seek treatment at an after-hours GP service and an increasing number of general practices and medical centres are offering after-hours services.
- There are other services available, such as the National Home Doctor Service (13 7425) and Home GP (1300 466 347), who provide home visits weeknights, weekends and public holidays.
- Health advice is also available at the 24-hour free hotline on 1800 022 222 (Healthdirect Australia), which is manned by a registered nurse.
- The local pharmacist can also provide a range of advice, support and guidance on health problems, as well as medications.