Werribee Mercy Hospital’s emergency department should run more smoothly with the scrapping of Victoria’s controversial ambulance bypass system, its chief executive has told Star Weekly.
Dr Linda Mellors said Werribee Mercy Hospital supports Ambulance Victoria in its efforts to improve patient care, particularly when faced with emergency cases.
“Werribee Mercy Hospital had previously used the hospital bypass system, if there was an increase in patient numbers and serious medical cases presenting at the emergency department,” Dr Mellors said.
“The hospital also accepted patients from other hospitals that were on bypass.”
The hospital bypass system will cease on October 7, ending the long-running saga that enabled metropolitan hospitals to refuse ambulances carrying non-urgent patients during times of peak demand.
From next month, a hospital bypass will only be able to be requested in exceptional circumstances, such as power failure.
Health minister Jill Hennessy said the change will bring Victoria into line with other states and territories, which have already removed the controversial practice.
“We are putting patients first,” the minister said. “This change will improve patient safety and care by ensuring all metropolitan public hospitals are open to receive incoming ambulances.
“We are focussed on ensuring our hospitals and ambulance service work better together, to ensure patients are taken to the right hospital, at the right time.
“By removing bypass, we will free up ambulances to respond more quickly.”
Dr Mellors said all patients presenting at Werribee Mercy Hospital’s emergency department are triaged on their arrival to determine the urgency of their situation.
“The intent of the cessation of hospital bypass is to smooth demand across the system.”
She said health services and Ambulance Victoria have worked closely to prepare for the change, and hospitals have already implemented processes to improve patient flow, capacity and emergency department access.
