HOSPITAL SERVICES REPORT : ACCESS TO EMERGENCY SERVICES - JUN97

How often are hospital emergency departments too busy, and consequently go on 'bypass'?

Periods of ambulance bypass of public hospitals¹

¹Hospital emergency departments are bypassed by ambulances when the emergency department has reached maximum capacity and the treatment of patients already in the emergency department could be significantly compromised by the ambulance arrival of an additional patient requiring emergency treatment. Each individual period of ambulance bypass is for two hours or less.

Source: Metropolitan Ambulance Service