Australia invests $317m to curb pressures on emergency care

The initiative will introduce emergency department alternatives for improved patient flow.

Australia is set to launch an emergency department (ED) relief package worth about $317m (A$480.7m) to ease pressure on stretched New South Wales (NSW) hospitals.

The package will be implemented and monitored in consultation with the ED Taskforce, focusing on expanding alternatives and improving patient flow to provide quality, accessible, and timely care.

According to the government, the initiative aims to avoid an estimated 290,000 ED visits annually once fully implemented.

“Our emergency departments face significant challenges with record presentations, so we are making the necessary investments across a range of strategically important areas to relieve that pressure and provide more alternatives for the community,” Health Minister Ryan Park said.

In line with this, data from the Bureau of Health revealed that NSW public hospital EDs continued to see a record number of ambulance responses and sicker patients from January to March.

A$1 = $0.66