Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service’s (CQHHS) Christmas wish is for a safe, healthy and happy festive season for all Central Queenslanders.
Chief Executive Dr Emma McCahon said hospitals across the region were there to care for our residents all day, every day, but the teams hope not to see you for avoidable presentations.
“We all know that the festive period is also known as the silly season, and we’d love Central Queenslanders to take extra care over the holidays to stay well and healthy,” she said.
That includes staying hydrated in the heat (with water), drinking alcohol responsibly, enjoying all the trimmings of the season but in moderation, and keeping safety in mind by giving age-appropriate gifts, avoiding button batteries for littlies, and giving helmets with scooters, bikes, and skateboards.
“Nobody wants to spend their holidays in hospital with a broken bone that could have been avoided,” Dr McCahon said.
Traditionally, the Christmas holidays involve a lot of driving, so please take care to avoid traffic accidents by wearing seatbelts, keeping within the speed limits and taking regular breaks.
“General practitioners are typically closed on public holidays, leading to increased activity in the Emergency Department (ED). If your health issue isn’t urgent, it’s best to wait until your GP is back at work.
“Save the ED for serious emergencies. This helps make sure emergency services are available for those who need them most.”
There are now a few options available before coming to the ED, including: the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at Stockland; the Metro North Health Virtual Emergency Department and 24/7 phone hotline 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is there for non-life-threatening things such as minor fractures, sprains, minor infections, respiratory illnesses, mild burns, severe stomach pains or urinary tract infections. You don’t need an appointment or a referral, and it’s free.
Access the Metro North Virtual Emergency Department for safe, fast and efficient access to emergency physicians. The online service is available seven days a week, 8am-10pm, for Queensland residents and visitors with a device for telehealth (video, audio, internet) at mnved.health.qld.gov.au.
The CQHHS team wishes our community a safe, healthy and happy holiday season, and we’ll be available should you need urgent medical attention. If your condition is not urgent you should be prepared to wait to be seen as our sickest patients always receive priority.
“I would like to thank our staff for their commitment in keeping our hospitals operational during the festive season and for their tireless efforts to provide great care to their communities across Central Queensland,” Dr McCahon said.