Each patient who presents to an emergency department is assessed according to how urgently they should receive care, using a triage category system. The most urgent cases are assigned to the Resuscitation triage category (should be treated immediately), and the least urgent are assigned as Non-urgent (should be seen within 2 hours).
Waiting times in 2010–11
Data on triage category and waiting times were available for 6.2 million emergency department presentations in major public hospitals (about 81% of all accident and emergency visits to public hospitals). A total of 5.4 million of those (87%) were in Principal referral and specialist women’s and children’s hospitals and Large hospitals.
In 2010-11:
- 70% of patients were seen within the recommended time for their triage category, ranging from 65% for Urgent patients, to 100% for Resuscitation patients (Figure 13)
- 50% of patients received care in 23 minutes or less and 90% received care in 114 minutes or less.
The proportion of patients seen within the recommended time for their triage category has remained relatively stable between 2006-07 and 2010-11, despite increasing numbers of emergency department presentations over recent years. Resuscitation patients were seen on time for either 99% or 100% of presentations each year, and Emergency (triage category 2) patients were seen on time for between 76% and 79% of presentations.
Figure 13: Proportion of public hospital emergency department presentations seen on time, 2010-11
There was some variation in the proportion seen on time between jurisdiction, ranging from 58% overall in the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory to 76% overall in New South Wales (Table 3). More information on the proportion seen on time by triage category for each state and territory can be found in figures 13a-h below.
Table 3: Emergency presentation statistics, proportion seen on time by triage category, selected public hospitals,states and territories, 2010-11
|
NSW |
Vic |
Qld |
WA |
SA |
Tas |
ACT |
NT |
Total |
|
('000) |
| Total emergency visits |
2,029 |
1,447 |
1,167 |
640 |
377 |
138 |
112 |
137 |
6,046 |
| Triage category |
Per cent |
| Resuscitation |
100 |
100 |
100 |
99 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
| Emergency |
83 |
81 |
78 |
71 |
78 |
72 |
82 |
65 |
79 |
| Urgent |
71 |
70 |
60 |
50 |
66 |
55 |
54 |
53 |
65 |
| Semi-urgent |
73 |
65 |
67 |
65 |
70 |
63 |
49 |
54 |
68 |
| Non-urgent |
88 |
86 |
90 |
92 |
88 |
83 |
76 |
90 |
88 |
| Total |
76 |
71 |
67 |
63 |
71 |
62 |
58 |
58 |
70 |
Figures 13a-13h: Emergency presentation statistics, proportion seen on time by triage category, selected public hospitals, states and territories, 2010-11
Figure 13a: New South Wales, 2010-11
Figure 13b: Victoria, 2010-11
Figure 13c: Queensland, 2010-11
Figure 13d: Western Australia, 2010-11
Figure 13e: South Australia, 2010-11
Figure 13f: Tasmania, 2010-11
Figure 13g: Australian Capital Territory, 2010-11
Figure 13h: Northern Territory, 2010-11
Further information
Australian hospital statistics 2010–11: emergency department care and elective surgery waiting times
Hospital performance: emergency department waiting times 2009-10
Emergency department services
Notes and corrections
- (30 November 2011) Hospital performance: emergency department waiting times and Hospital performance: waiting times for elective surgery updated with latest 2010-11 data.