Healthcare organisations push for pre-screening to ease ER pressure and wait times
Healthcare organisations in Belgium are calling for a major shift in how patients access emergency and out-of-hours care. Wachtposten Vlaanderen, Zorgnet-Icuro, Domus Medica and the emergency physicians' association Besedim are proposing a system that would make pre-triage mandatory before accessing an emergency room or on-call GP.
Currently, patients can call 1733, describe their symptoms and receive tailored advice ranging from a home visit to waiting to see their GP. However, the system is voluntary.
“We cannot refuse a patient if they ignore the advice to wait until Monday and still come to the out-of-hours GP,” says Bart Van de Velde, chair of Wachtposten Vlaanderen. “We want to make that binding so that we can all shorten the waiting times. If you then have a more urgent problem yourself, you will be helped more efficiently.”
Everyday complaints
The proposal comes amid growing frustration among both patients and care providers over long waiting times, often due to unnecessary visits. "An adult with a cold who asks for cough syrup: they can really be helped in a more adequate way, without burdening the healthcare system," says Van de Velde.
The organisations want all spontaneous visits to go through a triage process, via a phone call, an app or in person at the door. A trained nurse would then direct the patient to the appropriate place, either the emergency department, a doctor on call or back home. A central system would prevent people from bypassing the process by visiting multiple facilities.
“It’s a two-day wait at most,” says Van de Velde. “We are convinced that this should reassure people. A short but thorough questioning, a very low-threshold triage.”
Emergencies still prioritised
Severe or life-threatening cases, such as major injuries or acute respiratory distress, would still be treated immediately. But with fewer than a quarter of ER visits resulting in hospital admission, the organisations say reform is urgently needed.
“It will also require a different attitude from the people themselves,” says Cloet. “But if we don’t organise ourselves better, things will get out of hand. There are already staff shortages, and the endless waiting creates nervousness among patients and staff.”
A formal proposal will be submitted to the government on Monday.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO ALINE MORCILLO / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
Related news
