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The QEH’s Emergency Department provides 24-hour health care to more than 42,000
people of all ages each year, who have life-threatening and non-life threatening
emergencies.
In 2010-11, the QEH admitted 36,000 patients, and attended to 41,000 Emergency
Department presentations. In addition to the main campus in Woodville South, the
hospital also operates the St Margaret’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Semaphore and the
Pregnancy Advisory Service at Woodville Park.
The QEH provides a range of specialty services that are relevant to the health effects
that climate change may potentially impart upon the community. These services
include:
Cardiology
Emergency medicine
Gastroenterology
Upper gastro-intestinal surgery
Palliative care
Infectious disease
Intensive care
Vascular surgery
Mental health services
Respiratory medicine
Climate Change
Risks
Climate change impacts on the QEH are largely a function of the future demand
for health services that result from events associated with climate change. These
are generally related to health effects arising from extended, more frequent and
extreme heatwaves and hazardous events such as flooding and storm surges.
Potential impacts are grouped into two categories:
Health services
o
There is likely to be an increase in the volume of patients, a change in
the patient demography, and potential for presence of significant co-
morbidities. Any increase in the volume of patients will lead to a demand
for additional staffing levels, particularly during periods of extreme
events.
o
More sophisticated workforce planning in association with weather
forecasting and hazardous event assessment may be required. Planning
for emergency situations (e.g. flood response) will be necessary.
Health infrastructure and operations
o
Any increase in patient numbers may result in future strain on the QEH’s
existing physical facilities in terms of space, including patient
accommodation, theatre, and emergency areas. This may necessitate
exploring the option for developing additional or larger facilities or
developing operational or interregional measures to accommodate peak
demands.
o
Climate change events that strike at a wider community demographic
may result in transport impacts in terms of increased movement of
patients across the region, as well as communication impacts associated
with elderly and migrant groups.
o
The hospital facilities need to cope with harsher climatic conditions that
may have an impact on structural elements of the hospital, as well as
increasing maintenance requirements.
o
The suitability of the hospital for a hotter climate may require a review of
quality controls to ensure continued hygienic conditions and to manage
risks associated with potential emergence of new diseases. Ensuring a
safe environment for patients and workforce may require increased use
air conditioning, resulting in higher electricity and building maintenance
costs.
