Patients Discharged From Hospitals Quicker and Sicker
A new nationwide survey of 1,300 general practitioners shows that patients are being discharged from public hospitals quicker and sicker, the Federal President of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today.
The survey, published in the latest edition of the independent news magazine, Australian Doctor, provided concrete evidence of the public hospital crisis, Dr Phelps said. "Public hospitals are being forced to kick patients out early and GPs are being left to clean up the mess.
"The survey found that 73% of GPs said their patients had been discharged prematurely or inappropriately in the past 12 months. Of these, 24% said they 'frequently' experienced patients being discharged prematurely or inappropriately and 56% said it happened 'occasionally'.
The survey also revealed:
- 56% said it was more difficult than 5 yrs ago to get seriously ill patients into hospital;
- 69% said it was more common than 5 yrs years ago for patients to be discharged prematurely and inappropriately;
- 49% frequently had no notification from the hospital that discharged their patent; and
- 58% frequently found the discharge summary was not supplied or was inadequate.
"The survey shows that the impact of early discharge has fallen heavily on the aged and first time mothers. The elderly are being discharged while still very ill and often back to their home where they have been living alone without support.
"The survey also reveals that a significant number of GPs have patients who have had their elective surgery cancelled after admission to a public hospital had been organised. No less than 24% said this had happened frequently in the past 12 months while another 52% said it happened occasionally.
"We need to look at proper resourcing of community based support services in areas like community nursing and physiotherapy as well as different models of rehabilitation care, for example, hostel-type care that is half way between a hospital and the home.
"Public hospitals are facing a serious funding crisis - this needs to be addressed as a matter or urgency by state, territory and federal health ministers when they meet at the end of the month," Dr Phelps said.