More than 3 million people attend NSW public hospital emergency departments (EDs) each year. In the last 10 years, ED attendances have grown by 19.2% compared to the NSW population growth of 12.6% over the same period. Hospitals and EDs are under significant pressure, treating more patients with higher acuity and complex needs than ever before who require more time and resources for care (triage categories 1, 2 and 3). A large proportion of lower acuity ED presentations account for almost half of all ED presentations (triage categories 4 and 5). There are also challenges accessing primary and alternative care services in the community.
NSW Health aims to ensure patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time, through strategies designed to ease pressure on EDs by enhancing models of care and adapting workforce models to improve timely access to treatment across 7 days, creating inpatient capacity through early and supported discharge from hospital where clinically appropriate and reducing potentially avoidable ED attendances.
The purpose of the Emergency Department (ED) Taskforce is to provide assurance to the Secretary, NSW Health, that health care organisations providing emergency care services in NSW have a streamlined and strategic approach to delivering timely care, efficiency and clinical effectiveness to ensure the best quality care is provided to the people of NSW.
This Taskforce will build on existing emergency care committees and programs, recognising previous reviews and programs of work (Appendix A).
The ED Taskforce is the final authorising body for statewide strategic direction, performance improvement and planning for system wide emergency department care in NSW.
Other primary duties and responsibilities include:
For emergent issues, it may be necessary to establish a time (or meeting) limited subcommittee. In the event a subcommittee is required, the secretariat and meeting logistics will be allocated to a lead member organisation i.e., Ministry of Health, Agency for Clinical Innovation etc.
The Chair(s) may invite other individuals or groups to present to, or observe, meetings. Where agreed by the Chair(s), members may invite guests to attend meetings to provide expert advice and support to a specific topic raised. Guests may include accompanying staff and staff may be invited to support the recording of discussion and implementation of session outcomes.
The quorum will be a minimum of half the total membership plus one (more than 50%). In the absence of a quorum the meeting may be rescheduled to the earliest suitable date or may continue
at the Chair’s discretion with all actions to be ratified at a subsequent committee meeting. Proxies are included in the determination of a quorum.
Secretariat support will be provided by System Management Branch, NSW Ministry of Health. Responsibilities of the Secretariat include:
The ED Taskforce will meet on monthly basis or more frequently as required. The meeting location will be at the Ministry of Health, St Leonards or via Teams (videoconference).
Secretary, NSW Health
Existing emergency care committees and related areas of work were considered in defining the scope of the Emergency Department Taskforce.
There may be existing committees that have a set of key functions which should not be replicated. In other instances, work may require the collaborative efforts of both existing committees and the Emergency Department Taskforce.
Related committees and areas of work for consideration include:
