Emergency Overload: Sydney's Hospitals on Brink of Collapse The winter months have long been a stressful time for emergency departments in New South Wales, but this year's record 4100 ambulance callouts and nearly 10,000 emergency department presentations are a stark reminder that the system is on the verge of collapse.
Western Sydney hospitals, already stretched to capacity, bore the brunt of Monday's influx, with Blacktown, Bankstown, Campbelltown, Liverpool, and Nepean hospitals facing unprecedented pressure.
The situation is exacerbated by 270 beds occupied by patients who are medically ready to be discharged but awaiting a federal government funded place in an aged care or NDIS program.