Code Black, Cairns Base Hospital, ambulances queue with patients. Source: News Limited
CAIRNS Hospital’s busy emergency department has reached patient critical levels for the third time this year.
The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service has revealed its ED has been operating at Escalation Level 3 — formally known as ‘Code Black’ since yesterday (TUES).
The emergency ward has had 183 presentations, well above 2014’s daily average of 167.
The service’s assistance director of medical services, Dr Tony Brown, said an unusually high number of people had been admitted to hospital over the past couple of days, many with serious medical conditions.
“These patients require the most intensive treatment and stay in hospital longer which puts pressure on capacity within the hospital,’’ he said.
He said while operating at critical levels, additional staffing resources were deployed, senior clinicians conducted ward rounds to discharge patients where appropriate, and regular bed management discussions were held with regional facilities to transfer patients.
“It is absolutely essential that the community be aware that if they are sick and need
treatment they will be cared for at Cairns Hospital’s Emergency Department,’’ he said.
READ MORE IN TOMORROW’S THE CAIRNS POST.
Originally published as Queensland hospital stretched to the limit