As Australians slow down for the holidays, spending time with loved ones and marking the end of another year, frontline healthcare workers will continue reporting for duty. For those in emergency departments, the pressure doesn’t ease over Christmas — if anything, it intensifies.
It’s a well-documented fact that emergency department admissions spike over the holidays, with Boxing Day especially dangerous when it comes to road trauma.
According to Dr Emma West, one of the senior emergency department physicians at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, many of these accidents are largely preventable.
In an interview with Yahoo News Australia, Dr West called on the public to look out for one another, and in particular, drive with care on the roads in the coming days.
“I cannot express enough the awful tragedy I’ve seen on our roads, over and over again, that is completely avoidable,” she said.
Australians warned of emergency department misconceptions
While emergency admissions continue throughout the festive period, hospitals are simultaneously caring for patients with chronic illness, long-term admissions and vulnerable members of the community.
Dr West said that though the “ED is there 24/7, and it’s always available” should the public need “expert help”, Australians can help ease pressure by checking alternatives first.
“We are never not busy. There are always people waiting who are unwell and need care,” she said.
“If there’s an alternative, and you don’t have a life-threatening injury or condition, it’s really important to try those other options first — that includes GPs.”
Some people believe that because their general practitioner is away, “EDs are the only option”.
“But for minor illnesses or injuries, that’s usually not the best choice, particularly because of the demand,” Dr West said.
“We’re caring for people who are really sick, from chest pain, motor vehicle accidents, significant falls, and other major trauma.
“Even when everything else shuts down, we keep going, and we stay busy.”
If members of the public are unsure about whether they need emergency care, the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) — and adjacent services across the states — offers access to expert advice via telehealth from home.
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It’s a well-documented fact that emergency department admissions spike over the holidays. Source: Getty
When is it a good time for a trip to the ED?
Dr West said emergency departments are often flooded with calls from people asking whether it’s “a quiet time” to come in. But that’s a misunderstanding of how the system works.
While triage is designed to be fair, the sickest patients will always be seen first.
Life-threatening cases take priority and draw the bulk of emergency resources, meaning patients with less urgent injuries, such as fractures, can face long waits.
She said that doors are always open, but emergency departments are designed for life-threatening cases.
Though shifts can be stressful, Dr West praised the resilience and camaraderie of emergency department staff, saying teamwork is one of the few positives in an otherwise relentless environment.
She said while mornings can sometimes feel manageable, pressure builds quickly as the day wears on.
Life-threatening cases take priority and draw the bulk of emergency resources, meaning patients with less urgent injuries, such as fractures, can face long waits. Source: Getty
Dr West’s number one piece of advice for Australians over the holidays is to keep those close to you safe.
It’s a message that’s particularly timely as the period tends to come with more risk-taking, from climbing ladders, fixing gutters, and “doing activities people wouldn’t normally do”.
“The advice I give my own kids, friends, and family is to look out for each other,” she said.
“Being in an emergency department over the holidays is exactly where you don’t want to be. You want to be enjoying time with the people you love.
“People don’t realise that while other businesses shut down, we actually get busier, especially with road trauma over Christmas. When people assume it’ll be quieter, it usually isn’t.”
Above all else, Dr West encouraged motorists to “drive for everyone else”.
“Slow down. Don’t be distracted. And never, under any circumstances, think it’s okay to drive under the influence,” she added.
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