Accident and emergency department utilisation: a consumer survey

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• General Practice
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The Accident and Emergency (A and E) department at Hutt Hospital serves a diverse population.
• Understanding patient demographics and reasons for attendance is crucial for optimizing emergency care services.
• The role and accessibility of General Practitioners (GPs) in emergency situations require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the demographic profile of patients attending the Hutt Hospital A and E department.
• To ascertain the primary reasons for patients choosing the A and E department for emergency care.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of General Practitioner (GP) out-of-hours services and patient perceptions.

Main Methods:

• A consumer survey was conducted among patients attending the Hutt Hospital A and E department.
• Data collected included patient demographics, reasons for attendance, and GP registration/accessibility.
• Survey responses were analyzed to identify trends and compare with population norms.

Main Results:

• Predominant A and E users were males aged 15-29 years and Maori individuals.
• While 91% of attenders were registered with a GP, 28% used non-local practices.
• Successful out-of-hours GP contact was achieved by 69% of patients; 50% cited A and E's x-ray facilities as a key reason for attendance.

Conclusions:

• Public education on A and E department functions is necessary to ensure appropriate utilization.
• General Practitioners (GPs) must enhance public perception regarding their availability and role in emergency care.
• Improving accessibility and communication for GP out-of-hours services could potentially reduce A and E attendances.