The NSW Government will rollout 86 dedicated patient flow concierge officers across the state.

In a speech to the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, Health Minister Ryan Park will announce that 18 of them will be deployed in Western Sydney.

It forms part of the Minns Labor Government’s budget investment of $53.9 million to improve patient flow and support discharge planning by identifying patients that are suitable to be discharged home with the appropriate supports in place.

These roles will support clinical staff to facilitate patient flow and better co-ordinate the discharge processes.

This will enhance patient communication and experience, including for patients awaiting discharge who are National Disability Insurance Scheme recipients or residential aged care residents.

This is just one of a range of measures included in the Minns Labor Government’s $480.7 million emergency department relief package announced in the state budget in June.

The ED relief package also included $15.1 million for an Ambulance Matrix that provides real time hospital data to enable paramedics to transport patients to emergency departments with greater capacity and reducing wait times.

The nation-leading initiative is making strong progress with rigorous testing of the “NewGen” matrix commencing next month.

Other measures in the ED relief package include:

·         $171.4 million to introduce three additional virtual care services helping 180,000 avoid a trip to the ED;

·         $100 million to back in our urgent care services to become a mainstay and key instrument of the health system in providing a pathway to care outside of our hospitals for an estimated 114,000 patients;

·         $70 million to expand emergency department short stay units to improve patient flow to reduce ED wait times by nearly 80,000 hours; and

·         $31.4 million to increase Hospital in the Home across the state allowing over 3,500 additional patients each year to be cared for in their home rather than a hospital bed.

Quotes attributable to Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren:

"I welcome the announcement of 18 dedicated patient flow concierge officers, right here in Western Sydney. Our local hospital staff work hard to look after our community, and these officers will help to lighten their administrative workload."

"Long, drawn out periods of patients and loved ones waiting in hospitals are not good for them, for the staff and for others at the hospital."

"These key initiatives from the Minns Labor Government aim to relieve pressure on our hospital staff and system, particularly in Western Sydney where we have seen a significant growth in emergency department presentations in the last decade."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Having people and their loved ones waiting around in our hospitals for lengthy periods of time is not good for them, our staff, or other patients.

“Today we can announce that we will rollout 86 dedicated patient flow concierge officers, and 18 of them will be deployed in Western Sydney.

“Discharging patients from hospital is often an admin-heavy task, taking clinicians away from seeing patients.

“We’ve created this new role to help get patients home as soon as possible once they’re ready to be discharged – freeing up our doctors, nurses and other staff to get on with seeing patients.  

“And today, I’m also pleased to announce that nation-leading initiative real time ambulance matrix is making strong progress with rigorous testing of the “NewGen” matrix commencing next month.

“The growth in presentations in Western Sydney and South Western Sydney emergency departments has outpaced the state average over past 10 years.  I know this pressure is tough on the system but it’s also tough on our staff.

“The benefits of these key initiatives will be most strongly felt right here in Western Sydney.”