New data has shown that tens of thousands of patients are leaving NSW hospitals before receiving treatment compared to figures before the pandemic.
The NSW Bureau of Health Information highlights that over 67,000 patients left emergency departments without the completion or commencement of treatment during the last three months of 2024. This means 16,000 more people have left emergency departments (ED) without treatment when compared to figures from five years ago.
More patients are leaving EDs without treatment compared to 2019 across the hospital’s triage system, including patients in the urgent care bracket, highlighting the growing pressure on hospital staff and the delays in care for patients with crucial needs.
32.8 per cent of the total patients leaving ED without receiving or completing treatment fall within the urgent care category. These cases are ones that involve moderate blood loss or dehydration, conditions that are meant to be seen within 30 minutes.
The increase in the number of patients leaving NSW emergency departments without treatment, especially those in the urgent category, reflects a systemic strain as well as a change in patient decision-making.
The data points to escalating wait times and increasing pressure on triage systems, while the insight from frontline staff emphasises how resource and staff limitations are affecting their care delivery. Jointly, the statistics and lived experiences reveal a health system struggling to meet standards, with potentially serious repercussions for patients who simply can’t afford to wait.