Rapid population growth is putting pressure on Werribee Mercy Hospital’s emergency department, resulting in longer waiting times for patients.
Data from the latest state government health services performance report reveals that 8902 people sought help from the hospital’s emergency department between July and September last year, up from 8581 the previous year.
The city’s population grew by about 10,000 people between September, 2012, and September, 2013.
The average waiting time has increased to 25 minutes, four minutes more than the state average of 21 minutes. Many patients were forced to wait close to 40 minutes for treatment.
Mercy Public Hospitals executive director Linda Mellors said the hospital was trying to meet growing demand for emergency care.
She said the opening of a new two-storey community rehabilitation centre and admission-risk program this year would
help ease pressure on the emergency department.
“These increased services will provide an increased range of appropriate services to our patients and will aim to reduce emergency department presentations,” Dr Mellors said.
It is also hoped a plan to offer doctors tens of thousands of dollars to relocate to Wyndham will reduce emergency department attendances.
As reported by the Weekly, the city has 0.89 GPs for every 1000 residents, while the state average is 1.18.
Doctors who relocate to the municipality can receive up to $30,000 from the federal government, while those who set up new practices get $40,000.
