Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) is to receive four of 86 dedicated patient flow concierge officers to be rolled out at public hospitals across the state.
The new officers will aim to improve patient flow and support discharge planning by identifying patients that are suitable to be discharged with the appropriate supports in place.
They will support clinical staff to facilitate patient flow and better co-ordinate the discharge processes.
Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said officers would be stationed at Gosford and Wyong hospitals.
“The process will take some pressure off the emergency department staff to be more accessible to patients,” he said.
Member for The Entrance David Mehan said the move would ease pressure on local hospitals and ensure better care.
“This is a great step forward for our community, with dedicated roles to support clinical staff and enhance patient care, especially for those who need additional support,” he said.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch also welcomed the move.
“By creating the new role of the patient flow concierge, we aim to get patients home as soon as possible, freeing up doctors, nurses and other staff to get on with what they do best, looking after our community,” she said.
It is one of a range of measures included in the Labor Government’s $480.7M emergency department relief package announced in the state budget in June.
Other measures in the ED relief package include: $171.4M to introduce three additional virtual care services helping 180,000 avoid a trip to the ED; $100M to back urgent care services to become a mainstay; $70M to expand emergency department short stay units improve patient flow; and $31.4M to increase Hospital in the Home across the state.