ALL EMERGENCY department staff heard last quarter was crickets, as visits dropped by more than 2,000 patients.
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Tamworth hospital was unusually quiet from July to September, while other NSW public hospitals saw a surge in elective surgery procedures and ambulance activity, a Bureau of Health Information (BHI) report shows.
But, as COVID-19 restrictions ease and people have more chance of drunken stumbles and sports bungles; the ED is full to bursting again, Hunter New England Health (HNEH) rural and regional health executive director Susan Heyman said.
"I think across the board we saw a decline at the larger hospitals in terms of ED presentations, but it's gradually coming back up," she said.
"This week alone the numbers are as high as we have ever had.
"With the hotels and things opening up, people are out and about and more likely to have injuries or adverse encounters."
As a result of fewer patients in ED last quarter, the median wait time dropped by about half-an-hour compared to the same time last year.
Tamworth hospital sees about 45,000 patients each year.
During the pandemic people across the board were more concerned about going out unless they needed to, Ms Heyman said.
"It is a large base hospital and tends to [in normal circumstances] see a lot of people through ED on a daily basis," she said.
"If people are accessing their GP or primary healthcare providers that's where they should receive care.
"ED is just that - it's for emergencies."
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Elective surgeries were down at the hospital last quarter, even after COVID-19 restrictions on non-urgent surgeries were lifted.
There were 43 fewer elective surgeries performed compared to the same time last year and a drop in semi-urgent and non-urgent patients.
Fewer elective surgeries were performed on time at the hospital, but the overall wait was still better than that of other hospitals in the same peer group as Tamworth.
Non-urgent patients at the local hospital waited between 350 to 410 days for surgery, compared to up to 445 days at others.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
