Short-stay units unveiled to alleviate pressure amid emergency crisis

Two Hunter hospitals will benefit from short-stay units under a state plan to relieve pressure on emergency departments.

Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital will receive five extra treatment spaces, while Maitland Hospital will benefit from four.

The plans are part of a $130.7 million statewide investment announced on Monday to expand short-stay units and help improve emergency department wait times.

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the state government is making the investment to ensure hospitals can respond to demand and patients can get the care they need.

"We've already invested $500 million in Maitland Hospital, and the $890 million John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct is now nearing completion," Ms Catley said.

"These new spaces will help more patients receive timely care and, importantly, help improve emergency department wait times for people across the Hunter.

"The people of the Hunter deserve a health system they can rely on and while we know there is more work to do, we are committed to getting on with that work."

Across the state, public hospitals will be able to support an estimated additional 22,000 patients a year, as part of the investment to further expand short-stay units at hospitals experiencing high demand and patient flow pressures.

The units provide short-term assessment, observation and treatment for patients who require a period of further care after their initial emergency department assessment.

Most patients are expected to either return home or transition to another care setting within four to 24 hours.

Patients with minor head injuries, infections or those needing a brief course of treatment for conditions likely to resolve quickly such as allergic reactions and renal colic are commonly treated in short-stay units.

Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison said hospital staff need the right facilities and investment behind them to deliver the health services the community needs.

"These additional short stay treatment spaces will help patients get the right care sooner, improve patient flow and take some of the pressure off our busy emergency department," Ms Aitchison said.

"Maitland is growing quickly, and the Minns Labor government is delivering the investment we need to make sure our local health services are growing with us."

By providing short-term care in a dedicated setting, the units help improve patient flow by reducing prolonged stays in emergency departments and support more timely access to care.

NSW public hospitals have recorded more than half a million ED short-stay admissions since January 2024.

Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said John Hunter Hospital is one of the busiest regional hospitals in the state, and any moves to ease pressure in the emergency department are welcome.

"Thank you to our local nurses, doctors and ancillary staff for their dedication and efforts as we deliver the investments needed to alleviate pressure on our state health system," she said.

Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said the units will free up beds for critical injuries and conditions, and improve patient flow.

Premier Chris Minns and Health Minister Ryan Park hope the move will ease pressure on overnight and emergency departments.

A further eight spaces will be built over the 2027-28 financial year as the state's public hospitals have noted more than 500,000 emergency short-stay admissions since the beginning of 2024.

Health Services Union NSW secretary Gerard Hayes told AAP the investment was essential to smooth functioning EDs.

But the plan is facing fierce criticism from Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane.

"Our emergency departments are in crisis and we need more than band-aid solutions 22 beds or recliner chairs isn't going to make a huge difference," she said.

"This is a welcome announcement in some respects, but people who have been waiting in our emergency departments for too long are going to be shaking their heads."

She also backed an inquiry into NSW's health system, after reports people within the hospital system felt back-stabbed after Mr Minns' election campaigning.

The premier's pre-election social media advertising included panning hospital wait times and inadequate staffing.

One Bankstown nurse told News Corp the premier had promised the world before failing to deliver for health staff.

Mr Minns said his government had kept promises to invest in hospitals and reduce the wages freeze for public healthcare workers.

"These investments will make a difference. It can't be done overnight, but as a result of this investment, we've been able to recruit over 8000 nurses for our public hospital system," he said at St George Hospital on Monday.

He took aim at the Coalition's previous handling of the health system, and pointed to beds occupied by those waiting for aged care placement - a responsibility of the federal government.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association continued its calls for more staff to fix patient flows in emergency.

"For these units to succeed, we need the workforce to staff them safely ... beds don't care for patients, nurses do," general secretary Michael Whaites said.

NSW's emergency deparment dramas came to a head earlier in August.

Mr Minns was forced to instruct patients to avoid emergency departments where possible after a record day of presentations.

Nearly 10,000 patients presented to Sydney EDs on August 3, the biggest winter day on record, according to the government.

Australian Associated Press