Mr. Paul Reid:

We discussed with Senator Conway some of the initiatives we have which are looking at the whole organisation and flow of emergency departments across the board. We have been under very significant pressures. What I would say to all people who use our service is that they should use the emergency services when they need emergency care, which is exactly what they are for. In some cases, people can use local injury units, which are in all areas, and also some primary care services. However, people also need to go to emergency services. We have been under extreme pressure since January across the board in our emergency departments. We have a significant pressure in terms of presentations by older persons, which have required more multidisciplinary care. In terms of discharges, we were significantly impacted between January and April by discharge processes for older persons into nursing homes and residential care settings because of outbreaks in nursing homes. We have gone through an horrendous period.

As I mentioned to some previous speakers, while the public have moved on from Covid, and I understand that because we all should move on, we still have 477 patients with Covid. This impacts the whole flow as dual pathways are still required in our emergency departments. I would say to everybody who using emergency departments to bear with us. Our staff are under extreme pressure. We fully acknowledge that and the impact on the time it is taking people to get through. I ask that people only use emergency care when they need it.