The story since 2005 Why we needed to change People are living longer, by 2050 26% of the population is projected to be 65yrs + and only 15% of the population being 0-14yrsâ‚ . Not only are we living longer but technological advances have aided us to live healthier for longer, such as pre hospital thrombolysis, pre hospital assessment for primary angioplasty, drug therapies and surgical advances.
Further impacting on our health are our diet and lifestyle choices . It is well known that high saturated fat and high sugar diets, smoking, recreational drug use, binge drinking, lack of exercise are pre cursors for chronic disease. In Australia 70% of the burden of illness and injury is attributable to chronic diseaseâ‚‚. Current models of hospital based care do not adequately cater for the needs of older people or people with chronic diseases. An external report in 2007 (Hardes Report) projected that growth in demand would require additional beds equivalent to a small hospital each year. 6,000,000 5,000,000
Emergency Department attendances in Australia are increasing
4,000,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 0
NT
ACT
Tas
SA
WA
Qld
Vic
NSW
Figure 1: AIHW, Australian Hospital Statistics: ED Attendances by year 2001-02 to 2008-09
2,600,000 2,500,000 2,400,000 2,300,000 2,200,000 2,100,000 2,000,000 1,900,000 1,800,000 1,700,000
Emergency Department presentations in NSW are also increasing
ED Attendances
Projected ED Attendances
Figure 2: NSW Health Annual Report: Total ED Attendances by Year 2000-01 to 2008-09 & *NSW Health Predictions: 2009/10 to 2010/11
A long period of no real growth was seen in people attending emergency departments in NSW. This was followed by a 21% increase from 2005. This is projected to be a 24% increase by 2011. 4