The patients' deaths are being investigated, as coronavirus protocols are blamed for blowing out emergency room delays. | EXCLUSIVE
The deaths of two patients who had been waiting in ambulances outside hospitals are being investigated by the state’s healthcare watchdog, as coronavirus protocols are blamed for blowing out emergency room delays.
“We are reviewing that patient’s care to really ask questions about whether it was an unavoidable event or not,” Professor Wallace saidHe said he was not able to go into detail about the incident for privacy reasons and because it was the subject of an ongoing investigation. The union account of the second incident is strongly disputed by the hospital, and a spokesman said that reports a patient had died after not being assessed in the emergency department as a result of coronavirus arrangements were incorrect.
“Sitting outside the hospital with a patient that needs care and waiting as they deteriorate and go into cardiac arrest is incredibly traumatic,” he said. As Victoria records an alarming surge in coronavirus patients and emergency department numbers soar, Professor Wallace said hospitals were having to quickly readjust coronavirus plans to ensure separation between those suspected of being infected and others seeking treatment.
Ambulance Victoria confirmed that paramedics have been dealing with instances of longer than usual transfer times as a result of “robust measures in place to contain COVID-19”.
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