Those who find themselves in need of the services of Dunedin Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) could be in for quite a wait, as drunken university students are stretching hospital resources. Southern District Health Board chief operations officer Vivian Blake told the Otago Daily Times that the ED response time is being hampered by students with alcohol-related attendances, 46 over Orientation weekend alone.
The hospital’s advisory committee is considering implementing a separate filtering system, called a medical assessment and planning unit, which could aid in reducing the wait time in ED. The unit involves an initial assessment upon arrival to ED to determine whether a patient requires admission to a ward or short term treatment and monitoring before being sent home. The committee is reviewing computer modelling simulations and meeting with patients to determine what other improvements might be required to improve patient service in this area.
Sloppy students pissing off Emergency Department
