Health officials are urging Gold Coasters who may need to attend the city’s public hospital emergency departments to be patient following a large surge in demand.
More than 550 patients are turning up to emergency departments at Gold Coast University and Robina Hospitals each day at the moment.
Deputy Director of Emergency Medicine Dr Hayley Frieslich said that’s about 50 patients a day more than usual, with a whole range of reasons behind the spike.
“There isn’t a single reason for this, we have seen traumas, chronic illnesses, really complex patients and our mental health patients,” Dr Frieslich said.
“We are working really hard, the doctors, nurses, our support staff to support the Gold Coast community through this”.
Dr Frieslich said while there will inevitably be long delays, everyone who turns up at an emergency department on the Gold Coast will be seen.
“We would like to say to the Gold Coast community that we are here, we are open, and if you are critically unwell, this is the place to be,” she said.
“We’re here to look after you and we are putting processes in place to make sure that everybody gets the care that they need”.
