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EMERGENCY

In an emergency, always call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Ambulances are the safest way to be assessed, treated and transported to the right hospital for the care you need.

Triple zero (000) is a free call from any phone, mobile or phone box.

For less severe but still urgent situations, go to an Emergency Department.

There are 12 public hospital Emergency Departments in Northern NSW Local Health District and they are all available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Photo of a nurse caring for a patient
Published: 12 Dec 2024

Patients who attended emergency departments (EDs) in Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) during the 2023-24 financial year have once again given health staff, including clinicians and support staff, positive ratings.    

The latest Bureau of Health Information’s Emergency Department Patient Survey provides a snapshot of the experiences of 2,347 patients who attended NNSWLHD’s EDs from July 2023 to June 2024. During this period, more than 227,000 people attended EDs across the District.

Overall, more than nine in 10 patients surveyed (92 per cent) rated the care they received as ‘good’ or ‘very good’. The vast majority (93 per cent) also rated the ED health professionals who treated them as ‘very good’ or ‘good’, and 87 per cent agreed health professionals were ‘always’ kind and caring.

If asked about their ED experience by family and friends, 77 per cent reported they would speak highly, significantly above the state average of 72 per cent.

Of note, eight in ten surveyed patients (80 per cent) said the ED treatment area was ‘very clean’, the highest result for a local health district in the state.

NNSWLHD had 19 results significantly above the state average, the second highest ED survey result of all local health districts.  

Northern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Tracey Maisey said patient experience was an important factor in delivering excellent healthcare, and staff should be proud of their efforts.

“We all come to work wanting to do the best for our patients, and staff should be proud to see their efforts reflected in the positive experiences of our patients,” Ms Maisey said.

“I am certainly very proud of the compassionate care our teams provide day after day.”

Several hospitals, including Byron Central Hospital, Maclean District Hospital, Murwillumbah District Hospital and The Tweed Hospital received ratings of care significantly above the NSW average, across areas from overall care and treatment, to teamwork, communication and cleanliness.

Individual hospital highlights
 

BALLINA DISTRICT HOSPITAL

  • More than nine in 10 patients (91 per cent) rated the overall care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
  • More than nine in 10 patients (92 per cent) rated the health professionals who treated them as ‘very good’ or ‘good’
  • Nine in 10 patients (90 per cent) said staff were ‘always’ kind and caring. 
  • More than eight in 10 patients (86 per cent) said they ‘definitely’ had trust and confidence in the ED health professionals treating them, the second highest result in the state.

BYRON CENTRAL HOSPITAL

  • Nearly nine in 10 patients (89 percent) rated the overall care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good’, and more than eight in 10 patients (91 percent) rated their health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’. 
  • More than eight in 10 patients (89 per cent) said staff were ‘always’ kind and caring 
  • Nearly nine in 10 patients (89 per cent) said the hospital areas were ‘very clean’, the second highest result in the state. 
  • In total, Byron recorded 15 results significantly above the NSW state average.

CASINO & DISTRICT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

  • More than eight in 10 patients (87 per cent) rated the overall care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good.’ 
  • Nearly nine in 10 patients (89 per cent) said the staff they met on arrival were ‘definitely’ polite and welcoming.  
  • More than nine in 10 patients (91 per cent) rated their health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.  

GRAFTON BASE HOSPITAL

  • More than eight in 10 patients (85 per cent) rated their overall care as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
  • More than eight in 10 patients (88 per cent) rated the health professionals who treated them as ‘very good’ or ‘good’. 
  • Nine in 10 patients (90 per cent) said they were ‘always’ treated with respect and dignity.
  • More than eight in 10 patients (85 per cent) said the health professionals were always kind and caring.

LISMORE BASE HOSPITAL

  • Nearly nine in 10 patients (89 per cent) rated their overall care as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
  • More than nine in 10 patients (92 per cent) rated their health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
  • More than eight in 10 patients (82 percent) said the health professionals were always kind and caring.  
  • More than eight in 10 patients (84 per cent) said the ED treatment area was ‘very clean’, significantly above the NSW average (70 per cent).

MACLEAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL 

  • More than nine in 10 patients (95 per cent) rated their overall care as ‘very good’ or ‘good’, and their health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
  • More than nine in 10 patients  (93 per cent) said the health professionals were always kind and caring.
  • More than eight in 10 patients (84 per cent) said the ED treatment area was ‘very clean’, significantly above the NSW average (70 per cent). 
  • In total, Maclean recorded 19 results significantly above the NSW state average.

MURWILLUMBAH DISTRICT HOSPITAL

  • More than nine in 10 patients (96 per cent) rated the overall care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
  • More than nine in 10 patients  (97 per cent) rated their health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
  • More than nine in 10 patients (94 per cent) said they were ‘always’ treated with respect and dignity.
  • Nine in 10 patients (90 per cent) said the ED treatment area was ‘very clean’, the highest result in the state.  
  • In total, Murwillumbah recorded 19 results significantly above the NSW state average.

THE TWEED HOSPITAL

  • More than nine in 10 patients (96 per cent) rated the overall care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
  • More than nine in 10 patients (97 per cent) rated their health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
  • More than nine in 10 patients (95 per cent) said the teamwork of health professionals was ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
  • More than eight in 10 patients (88 per cent) said the health professionals were always kind and caring. 
  • In total, Tweed recorded 8 results significantly above the NSW state average.