NSW: Elective patients getting beds before emergency cases

AAP General News (Australia)
02-28-1999
NSW: Elective patients getting beds before emergency cases

By Catharine Munro

SYDNEY, Feb 28 AAP - Emergency patients are being forced to wait longer for beds in New
South Wales public hospitals because of pressure to continue lowering waiting lists for
elective patients.

The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) has taken the dramatic step of going
public with its frustration over the lack of beds available for emergency patients one month
before the state election.

The College is worried about political promises such as the one made at the 1995 poll, when
Premier …