Belmont Hospital has received a boost in funding to deliver critical medical equipment to support the pressure on the Emergency Department.

The Funding came after Member for Swansea – Yasmin Catley wrote to the Minister for Health – the Hon. Brad Hazzard MP requesting funding to acquire three reclining chairs for the Emergency Department and a Lucas auto CPR machine.  

The three recliner chairs worth around $7,000 each, will allow the Emergency Department to increase it’s capacity to treat patients in times of surge.

Belmont will join the John Hunter Hospital, Calvary Mater and Maitland Hospital as hospitals within the local health district to have a Lucas auto CPR machine. The Lucas machine delivers better patient outcomes compared to manual chest compressions.

The most recent Bureau of Health Information outlined the pressure on the Belmont Hospital Emergency Department with only 61.5% of patients present at emergency beginning treatment on time. This is not only below the state average but is the lowest percentage on record.

Ms Yasmin Catley MP – Member for Swansea said, ‘This is critical funding to help take the pressure off our frontline health workers’.

‘We know that our hospitals are under immense pressure that is not just leading to poorer patient outcomes, but burnout for our frontline health workers’.

‘The latest date showing the percentage of Emergency Department patients commencing treatment on time is the lowest on record, this is not an issue that arose overnight but over the last decade’.

‘I am glad to see the Health Minister took on board the concerns of the community and provided this funding. However more needs to be done to address the structural issues with our health system’.