Another example of the strain on the Peel Health Campus was on show over the Christmas period with the Mandurah facility the only hospital across the metropolitan area to be put on ambulance diversion.
A PHC spokeswoman confirmed the Campus was put on ambulance bypass on the evening of Friday, December 28.
The diversion took place from about 6pm-10.30pm.
Patients picked up by St John Ambulance on the night who were deemed likely to require tertiary care or mental health care were taken directly to Rockingham General Hospital or Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Time critical emergencies were still admitted to PHC for stabilisation.
Patients who self-presented were triaged and treated as per usual.
A PHC spokeswoman said an unexpected demand for emergency care prompted the action.
“The decision to request to go on ambulance diversion was made on Friday when demand for emergency care surged unexpectedly,” she said.
“Ambulance diversion is just one of a number of management strategies used by hospitals throughout Australia to maintain a high standard of emergency care.
“Due to the very nature of emergencies, we cannot control or predict the number of patients who will present to our hospital each day, so it is important a process is in place to ensure patients who require emergency care receive that care at all times.”
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She said PHC would continue to observe and appropriately manage emergency department admissions
“The hospital continues to monitor patient flow and has management plans in place for the upcoming period,” she said.
Statistics from the Department of Health show 127 people attended the emergency department at PHC on December 28, with 40 total emergency department admissions.
Additionally, there were 29 ambulance attendances prior to the bypass in the early evening.
The Mandurah Mail has been reporting on the strain on the Peel Health Campus as part of a campaign to deliver investment in the hospital since January 2018.
It was revealed the Mandurah facility had some of the worst emergency department wait times in the state.
After highlighting stories from residents detailing negative experiences with the hospital and identifying pressure points, health minister Roger Cook pledged $5 million for an emergency department upgrade in September.
Since the announcement, plans have been drawn up to deliver the upgrades, which are expected to be implemented in the near-future.
