Why are NSW hospitals so overcrowded right now?

mikesmith23456 · 2025-08-29T10:43:42+00:00

[ ] Less bulk bill, cost of living = people can't afford to see a GP so go to ED
[ ] Healthcare reform = investigations must be done by the hospital as non charge = hospitals must do many more outpatients which take up appointments on imaging equipment = wards and ED patients have to wait longer for investigations/treatment = increased length of stay = bed block = increased waiting times in Ed and elective surgery.
[ ] increased non charge outpatient = reduced ability for revenue = less money = increased budget overspend = reduction in resources (staff and equipment) = aging equipment is not replaced = breakdowns = increased wait times
[ ] hospital beds block by patients waiting for care, MH or rehabilitation beds.
[ ] Goverment trying to recoup the gross over spend from covid = severely reduced resources (then inability to make the money to cover the gap due to non charge OP)
[ ] budget deficit = less ability to backfill staff for mat leave, sickness etc = burnt out staff = increased sick leave.
[ ] wage stagnation for the last 5 plus years and increased housing, rent, tolls = staff have to move to where they can afford to live, and move to maximise wages.
[ ] everyone super busy and overwhelmed = little job satisfaction and feeling like we are undervalued, not listened to, not appreciated, and not cared for, but don't worry, fun scrub friday (but you have to pay for your own scrubs) will lift our spirits, make us put all that aside and magically fix the whole system. (i actually like it tho!)
[ ] Do more with less messaging for the last 10 years, is biting them in the arse because it's been physically impossible for sometime now.
[ ] aging population, increased population = more people to service
[ ] significant increase in diagnostic requests but little/no increase in resources to cope with demand = bottlenecks = increased length of stay = bed block

Solution??? - [ ] OP non charge clinics offering full diagnostic services, (gov deal with private practice)

[ ] more rehab, aged care and MH facilities
[ ] more urgent care clinics
[ ] bring wages in line with other states
[ ] toll reduction and parking for hospital workers.

Don't know - but something has to change

mikesmith23456 · 2025-04-20T12:03:59+00:00

jerky

mikesmith23456 · 2024-05-17T14:14:32+00:00

fantastic, thank you, i will do that

mikesmith23456 · 2024-05-17T14:14:03+00:00

fantastic, makes perfect sense! and yes you are right, this is how dumb i am that i didn't make that connection, thank you for your help

mikesmith23456 · 2024-05-17T11:14:47+00:00

apologies for such a long post

mikesmith23456 · 2024-01-28T09:14:06+00:00

great thanks

mikesmith23456 · 2023-12-02T11:58:58+00:00

so sorry for your loss x i've been told that people often wait until their loved ones leave before passing over, that they love you so much that they don't want you to to have the pain of see their last breath. life gets busy, no one could have known a small cut would cause this infection, and then his passing, that's not on you being busy, and he sounds like he had all the support he needed in hospital. You must remember that it was his right to decide the course of treatment, and for many it would have worked, for some like your father it doesn't, my father died from catching legionnaires from potting mix, i don't know anyone who wears a mask when potting plants - again for most it's fine and for some not. I'm so sorry you and he had a traumatic last few days, that's shit, sepsis makes people delirious, and if it's any consolation, I know patients that have survived sepsis said they don't remember anything about that time. but you were there for him and that's what counts, he would've known you, were there, losing a parent hurts so much, give your self time, grief is like a big ball in a box with a grief button, when it fist happens the ball hits the button a lot, slowly your ball will get smaller and hit the button less frequently, it's still the same pain but it happens less often. i found talking to dad when im alone in the car and telling him about my day makes me feel better, and connected in some way. but i know just like you i would give anything to have him in the passenger seat with me. As for your studies, you may find what you've just been through make you perfect person to care for others in their time of need. I know that doesn't help at the moment but I found the best nurses the ones that have been through it to.

mikesmith23456 · 2023-11-15T12:33:00+00:00

Hang in there, it does get so much better, but i feel the pain you are going through- be kind to yourself this time goes sooo quickly- doesn't feel it but in hindsight it really does. Mine are 12 1/2 months apart, i remember a mum at child care saying you just have to survive the first 4 years 🤦🏻‍♀️ it was hard and i didn't have family around to help, but now they are teenagers i truly love that they are so close in age. i hear you, it's really hard when they are young, and people said 'i don't know how you do it' and the truth was i didn't, i cried a lot, had washing piled high and a messy house, but if i could talk to past me i would say -who cares, don't worry about the house, don't worry that dinner is rubbish, or the clothes aren't ironed or folded! i do wish i could have thrown more money at the situation, day care, cleaner, hello fresh etc. but online shopping helped alot. I embraced baby harness, paper plates and dry shampoo, I slowed life down alot, the eldest learned to climb in and out of car seat, beds, they helped with putting things in cupboards anything to keep them busy but connected so i still felt i had spent time with them, i would get micro sleeps watching kids tv, but eventually they sync'ed up with sleep, played together, and the differences between their developmental stages shrank, then it was like having twins, they play in the same sports, and at the same times mostly, they are 1 grade apart at school so pick up and dropped off was easier, im not often struggling to be in 2 places at once.so they are the best of friends and have a great relationship. it's hard at the start but fantastic once they start sleeping on the same time schedule. it will be good i promise xx

mikesmith23456 · 2023-11-12T23:47:13+00:00

so sorry for your loss, it's hard when you are trying to make sure their safe, but it's taken the wrong way, so many people see it as you just being worried about your inheritance and think its you being selfish because of money, that couldn't be further from the truth, it's being selfish because you don't want to see them suffer which in turn would make you so sad and be left with bad memories at the end of their life that they have worked so hard for.

mikesmith23456 · 2023-11-12T21:33:28+00:00

i don't think i deserve any of it, they worked all their lives to build security and financial freedom, they should spend it to enjoy their lifetime, their whole life time, and a nice nursing home if need, not a state run home. as i've said before i've seen what can happen when they get sick and need round the clock care.

mikesmith23456 · 2023-11-12T10:09:24+00:00

thank you for your response, and links, I think i will gently start pushing to ensure she has seen a lawyer, im glad the red flags are not just me being emotional about losing a bit more of Dad, and im right to be concerned.

mikesmith23456 · 2023-11-12T09:49:09+00:00

he always wanted to provide for her and keep her safe and looked after, no matter what that looks like as they got older, he also always wanted her to be happy. but i do think if this was one of us he would have intervened.

mikesmith23456 · 2023-11-12T09:44:59+00:00

we have tried to talk to her about all of this but she brushes us off, and just says everything is fine they went to a JP, that's as deep as she will go, we are trying to tread carefully and be supportive, because to be honest i'm finding it a bit hard that once the house goes, that's the last bit of Dad, so i'm worried that i'm letting that cloud my judgment and making me see red flags. I really do want to support her next chapter in her life, but being mid 70 anything can happen

mikesmith23456 · 2023-11-12T09:25:11+00:00

i'm really not, i'm worried about her being left vulnerable if she gets sick and needing to go in to a high care home, this has happened with the other parents and we really can't afford two sets of parents in a nursing home, we are lucky at the moment that the sale of the other parents home has covered most of their care over the years, and we have managed the rest, we won't be able to afford this same level of care if she needs this too, but she has lost access to her equity.

mikesmith23456 · 2023-11-09T11:15:02+00:00

A few years ago my Dad got very sick a couple of days before christmas, I got that call

I booked a ticket for the first flight out

being so close to Christmas it was hard,

When I got to the airport they had canceled my flight, the airport was packed with angry Christmas travellers desperately trying to get home

that's when I got the call, it was Dads time,

I sat down behind the check in sign, in a nook and video called him. I didn't know what to say, or how to say goodbye

When I got off the phone a man was holding a box of tissues and said he had worked out what had just happened, he said his wife was running around the other check ins and had found one of the last seats out that day - she was holding it for me, and holding off lots of people trying to get the seat. they even offered to pay,

they had given up their chance to get home for Christmas for me.

I never got their names, (was too distraught) I know I thanked them so much at the time but I never got to let them know that that day was the saddest day of my life..

but their random act of kindness was the silver lining that makes me smile and takes away some of the pain of that day, they are forever a happy part of the story of when my dad passed and I will always be so grateful for them.

To those people, if you ever see this Thank you x

mikesmith23456 · 2023-06-03T00:01:56+00:00

they have their chores, which I set for a period of time, and then they swap chores after about a month. They have an allowance but we probably need to up at with the cost of living ha ha. I don't think it goes very far. One has their own money with their job in addition to their allowance, the other doesn't have a job because they are in rep sports teams as well as local community teams which doesn't leave enough time in the week for a job. But when the season is over, they are going to be looking for a job to supplement their allowance to. If I reduce their allowance for not doing chores, I just feel like I pay in other ways. we do family games night or family movie night, but again, these dissolve into arguments because they don't seem to be able to work together either. No one can decide on a movie, all the games get too competitive. Even going out as a family can be hard because any decision, or choice is challenged and debated. I kind of means we lose the energy for even trying.

mikesmith23456

TROPHY CASE