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🇦🇺 Australia /Health & Science

Tasmanian paramedics rerouted for complex cardiac patients

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Documents & data Ongoing story
  • Paramedics in Tasmania's north-west are now directed to take complex cardiac patients to Launceston General Hospital (LGH) instead of the local Mersey Community Hospital.
  • This new policy, effective June 29, adds approximately two hours to return travel times for ambulances.
  • Health officials initiated a six-month pilot program, citing concerns about Mersey Community Hospital's lack of definitive cardiac care and potential for less-than-ideal patient outcomes.

Paramedics in Tasmania's north-west have been instructed to bypass Mersey Community Hospital and transport complex cardiac patients directly to Launceston General Hospital (LGH). This new directive, communicated via email and effective since June 29, significantly impacts ambulance services by adding an estimated two hours to return travel times.

It's having a significant impact on the ambulance service because they're now having to travel an extra 2 hours return.

— Robbie MooreHealth and Community Services Union representative describing the impact of the new policy on ambulance travel times.

Robbie Moore from the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) expressed concern, stating that the extended travel distances are delaying ambulance response times. He also noted that LGH may not be equipped to handle the increased patient volume. Moore criticized the health department for a lack of transparent communication regarding the policy change, asserting that even Mersey hospital staff were not initially informed.

Data and clinical reviews have highlighted cases where patients experienced prolonged waits at MCH before transfer, resulting in less-than-ideal outcomes, including delayed treatment for arrhythmias, acute coronary syndromes, and heart failure.

— Ambulance Tasmania and Tasmania Health Service documentExplanation for the pilot program, citing issues with patient care at Mersey Community Hospital.

The Tasmania Health Service and Ambulance Tasmania are conducting a six-month pilot program for this diversion. A document obtained by ABC News explains the pilot aims to improve patient and system outcomes by ensuring complex cardiac patients receive early, definitive care at LGH, which is identified as the preferred facility. The North West Regional Hospital in Burnie is a secondary option.

This pilot aims to improve both patient and system outcomes by allowing AT clinicians to identify complex cardiac patients who will benefit from conveyance directly to a facility that can provide early definitive care.

— Ambulance Tasmania and Tasmania Health Service documentStating the objective of the pilot program for cardiac patient transport.

Concerns have been raised about the pilot's potential to reduce ambulance availability in the north-west and increase the risk of paramedic fatigue due to longer transports. The program's metrics will include monitoring ambulance availability, response times, staff fatigue, and impacts on emergency departments, alongside its clinical objectives. The document acknowledges that diverting ambulances could reduce coverage in the north-west.

Longer transports to LGH increase the potential for crew fatigue, particularly on back-to-back shifts or during periods of high demand.

— Ambulance Tasmania and Tasmania Health Service documentAcknowledging a potential negative consequence of the pilot program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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