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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).

Data on triage category and waiting times were available for more than 6.7 million presentations to public hospital emergency departments (about 84% of all emergency visits to public hospitals). Almost 5.8 million of those (86%) were in Principal referral and Specialist women’s and children’s hospitals and Large hospitals.

In 2012–13:

  • 73% of patients were seen within the recommended time for their triage category, ranging from 68% for Urgent patients, to 100% for Resuscitation patients (Figure 12)
  • 50% of patients received care in 19 minutes or less and 90% received care in 101 minutes or less.

Figure 12: Proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, public hospital emergency departments, 2012–13

Horizontal bar chart showing the proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, by triage category for all public hospital emergency departments, 2011–12

For more information see below: States and territories: proportion of emergency presentations seen on time

The proportion of patients seen within the recommended time for their triage category improved between 2008–09 and 2012–13, despite increasing numbers of emergency department presentations. For resuscitation patients, 100% were seen on time each year. The proportion of emergency triage category patients seen on time increased from 77% to 82% over this period.

There was some variation in the proportion seen on time between jurisdictions, ranging from 51% overall for the Australian Capital Territory to 78% overall in New South Wales (Table 3). More information on the proportion seen on time by triage category for each state and territory is in figures 12a–12h, below.

Table 3: Proportion (per cent) of presentations seen on time by triage category, public hospital emergency departments, states and territories, 2012–13
NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Total
('000)
Total presentations 2,279 1,529 1,284 754 455 147 119 146 6,712
Triage category Per cent
Resuscitation 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Emergency 83 84 84 81 75 83 74 66 82
Urgent 73 72 68 52 66 65 43 52 68
Semi-urgent 77 68 74 67 78 70 46 52 72
Non-urgent 92 87 92 93 92 90 79 89 91
Total 78 73 74 66 75 71 51 57 73

States and territories: proportion of emergency presentations seen on time

Figure 12a: Proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, public hospital emergency departments, NSW, 2012–13

Horizontal bar chart showing the proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, by triage category for public hospital emergency departments, New South Wales, 2011–12

Figure 12b: Proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, public hospital emergency departments, Vic, 2012–13

Horizontal bar chart showing the proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, by triage category for public hospital emergency departments, Victoria, 2011–12

Figure 12c: Proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, public hospital emergency departments, QLD, 2012–13

Horizontal bar chart showing the proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, by triage category for public hospital emergency departments, Queensland, 2011–12

Figure 12d: Proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, public hospital emergency departments, WA, 2012–13

Horizontal bar chart showing the proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, by triage category for public hospital emergency departments, Western Australia, 2011–12

Figure 12e: Proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, public hospital emergency departments, SA, 2012–13

Horizontal bar chart showing the proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, by triage category for public hospital emergency departments, South Australia, 2011–12

Figure 12f: Proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, public hospital emergency departments, Tas, 2012–13

Horizontal bar chart showing the proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, by triage category for public hospital emergency departments, Tasmania, 2011–12

Figure 12g: Proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, public hospital emergency departments, ACT, 2012–13

Horizontal bar chart showing the proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, by triage category for public hospital emergency departments, Australian Capital Territory, 2011–12

Figure 12h: Proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, public hospital emergency departments, NT, 2012–13

Horizontal bar chart showing the proportion of emergency presentations seen on time, by triage category for public hospital emergency departments, Northern Territory, 2011–12