Why Staying Home is often the better option
The recommended treatment time for non-urgent patients is 2hrs at emergency departments. Add a few life threatening emergencies and that 2hr wait can extend significantly.
In 2016 at Gold Coast university hospital 100,432 people went through the emergency department and the team there did an amazing job at treating those people.
The average wait time according to myhospitals.gov.au was 5 hrs and 31 minutes – compare this with a regional hospital such as Wollongong which was over 13hrs! The Gold Coast team ROCK!
https://www.myhospitals.gov.au/compare-hospitals/time-in-emergency-departments
The challenge for families and something we are asked a great deal is – we suggest when it’s not an emergency but could be serious.
An example might be, a child with a fever, cough and headache especially in winter. Or a person with a skin infection or rash that just seems to be getting worse.
Gastro bugs are always high on our list as it’s important to minimise the spread and keeping a person at home with a gastro bug reduces the chance of spreading into the community.
For many older people living at home in our community, simply being able to be treated at home can be more comfortable for the patient and their family.
We ensure though that anyone we do see has their consultation notes sent to their GP. This ensures the continuity of care and we recommend following up with your local GP as an important part of the process. After all they know you.
Dial A Home Doctor offers remarkable medical care when you need it most. If someone at home is sick after hours or on the weekend, just dial a home doctor on 139999.
Dial A Home Doctor is a free bulk billed after-hours Doctor service – We Come To You.
*Home Doctor Guaranteed within 90mins. If you book online Mon-Fri by 4:30pm, Sat & Sun by 10:30am. We reserve the right to take more time in case of giving priority to more serious conditioned patients as we always attempt to prioritise young children and the elderly.
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition