Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 4685

❓ Mr Cook asks about the status of patients moved to ambulance trolleys and whether this constitutes arrival at the Emergency Department for the 4-hour rule. The Minister for Health clarifies that the patient is under the ED's care and the 4-hour rule starts at triage.

AnsweredQoN 4685Legislative Assembly

Asked

22 October 2015

Member

Mr R.H. Cook

Portfolio

Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the media report “Hames goes trolley shopping” from the Weekend West on the 3 October 2015, and I ask: (a) if a patient has been moved to an ambulance trolley, and the ambulance has been returned to the road, what is the status of that patient; and (b) is being moved onto the ambulance trolley considered to be their arrival at the Emergency Department for the purposes of the 4 hour rule?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

24 November 2015

Responded by

Minister for Health

Response time

33 days

(a) The status of the patient is that they are in the care of the Emergency Department.
(b) The National Emergency Access Target (previously the Four Hour Rule) commences from the time of patient triage. Triage of ambulance patients occurs as soon as practicable from ambulance arrival.

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