BOP Emergency department gears up for holidays

Emergency department gears up for holidays

Tauranga Hospital’s emergency department is gearing itself up for the forthcoming festive season.

Every year holidaymakers and Western Bay of Plenty residents cause avoidable pressure on the emergency department with an increasing trend for people to turn up with non-urgent conditions for which they should be going to a GP or a private accident and health clinic.

Tauranga Hospital General Manager Alan Wilson says that people at this time of year often treat the emergency department as the first point of referral for all sorts of illnesses, including many minor health problems.

“With the holiday season upon us, it is time for us to remind the community that the emergency department is very busy under normal circumstances coping with genuine emergencies, without having to cope with ailments that should be tended to by a GP or private accident and health centre,” says Mr Wilson.

A triage system in the emergency department at Tauranga Hospital ensures that people with the most urgent problems or injuries are treated as soon as possible. All patients are assessed and prioritised by a trained triage nurse and those not needing the emergency department’s services are offered health care advice or referred to their GP or local private accident and medical clinics.

“To avoid delays or frustration, our message is simple - if you know your problem is not urgent: see your GP or private health clinic and save the emergency department for those in real need. What some members of the public don’t realise is that GP services are also available after hours in evenings, weekends and on public holidays through three accident and health services,” says Mr Wilson.

1. Bayfair Doctors on the corner of Girven Road/Grenada St Mt Maunganui is open from 8.00am to 8.00pm daily except Christmas Day when they are closed.

2. Baycare on the corner of 10th Ave/Edgecumbe Rd is open weekends and Public Holidays from 8.00am to 10.00pm and in the evenings from 6.00pm to 10.00pm. They provide a telephone triage service at night from 11.00pm to 8.00am daily.

3. Accident and Healthcare, 19 Second Ave is open from 8.00am to 9.00pm daily except Christmas Day when they are open from 9.00am to 5.00pm.

There is also the recently set up Healthline that you can call toll free on 0800 611 116.

“We are hoping that this Christmas and New Year period will be quiet and that the public will save the emergency department for emergencies”.

ENDS

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