Every December Milton-Ulladulla fills with visitors, an estimated 6,000 people, or a 40 per cent population increase, head to our coastal paradise to celebrate the festive season. With an such a boom comes increased pressure on the regions vital services.
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Milton Ulladulla Hospital’s (MUH) Emergency Department (ED) will be boosted by the addition of two highly specialised nurse practitioners over the Christmas holiday period to help cope with increased demand.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Heath District (ISLHD) emergency services lead Orinda Jones said their is a 40 per cent spike in ED presentations over this period, especially for less serious conditions.
“No one wants to end up in the emergency department over Christmas, but we all know things do happen” she said.
“We are preparing for the holiday season as best we can by ensuring additional highly trained and specialised nursing staff are in place to treat patients as quickly as possible.”
The ED unit is anticipating a jump in admissions over the period and has reassessed staff levels to ensure they are able to cope efficiently with the holiday population boom.
“The numbers top 100 each day and that’s at-least double,” clinical nurse specialist Bruce Corke said.
“Nursing staff will vary each day but we have an increase over the peak period and again for times like New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Boxing Day.”
Nurse practitioners are skilled in the treatment of conditions including: limb injuries and musculoskeletal pain, respiratory presentations, urinary tract infections, deep vein thrombosis diagnosis and management and wound management; and will be a welcome addition to the local service.
One of the nurses Kathryn Eiseman is a Mollymook local who is usually positioned in Wollongong Hospital ED.
Kathryn said she is excited about returning to work in her local area.
“I had my first shift here (MUH) 21 years ago,” she said.
“It’s kind of bizarre knowing some of the patients, but it is really nice for them to see a face that they know. ”
Kathryn has a Masters of Nursing degree (Nurse Practitioner), a Master’s degree in Applied Management (Nursing), a Graduate Certificate in Emergency Nursing and a Diploma in Health Science (Nursing).
Karen Watling, who lives in Sanctuary Point, will also join the ED over the holiday period.
She has more than 14 years’ experience in emergency nursing and currently works at Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital.
“I’m looking forward to bringing this new service to the area,” she said.
“We (nurse practitioners) are able to decrease waiting times and see a variety of patients ourselves.
“I tend to see a lot of holiday accidents such as fish hooks, lacerations, sprains, they are the most common holiday mishaps.
“Along with general things like children with ear infections and tummy pains.
“We can see these people very quickly. Also, we see the high-level patients.”
Both Kathryn and Karen will provide cover every day of the week for the holiday period commencing December 5, 2016 until February 12, 2017.
Over the holiday season, it’s important to remember that the Emergency Department is for diagnosing and treating serious or urgent illnesses and injuries.
Residents and visitors are reminded that there are a number of other medical services available in the area, including: Medical Centres (visit www.healthdirect.gov.au for a list), phoning Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for expert health advice (available 24-hours, 7 days a week); or talk to a local pharmacist.
