News

New program to help reduce emergency waiting times in the Illawarra

Jul 08, 2026

Wollongong Private Hospital has become the first private hospital in New South Wales to introduce an Emergency Department Nurse Liaison program aimed at reducing pressure on local emergency departments, freeing up hospital beds and helping patients access care sooner.

Funded entirely by Ramsay Health Care, the initiative places experienced nurses in a dedicated coordination role to help facilitate the safe transfer of eligible privately insured patients from public hospital emergency departments including Wollongong Hospital to Wollongong Private Hospital for ongoing treatment.

Ramsay Health Care developed the program in response to increasing demand on public hospital emergency departments and growing pressure on bed capacity across the healthcare system. 

Wollongong Private Hospital Chief Executive Officer Steven Rajcany said the program would help make better use of available hospital capacity across the Illawarra while improving the experience for patients.

“Emergency departments continue to face significant demand, with many public hospitals experiencing challenges associated with bed capacity and patient flow,” Mr Rajcany said.

“This program is designed to help ease some of that pressure by supporting the timely transfer of suitable patients to Wollongong Private Hospital, freeing up emergency department and inpatient beds for those who need it most.”

“By creating additional capacity within the healthcare system, we have the potential to reduce waiting times, improve patient flow and ensure patients receive the right care in the right setting,” he said.

Emergency Department Nurse Liaison Officers are experienced registered nurses with backgrounds in emergency care, hospital coordination and clinical leadership. Working closely with public hospital teams, they assess patient suitability for transfer, undertake health fund eligibility checks and coordinate admissions and clinical handovers to ensure a seamless transition of care.

Mr Rajcany said the initiative, also provided greater choice for patients and faster access to specialist care.

“For eligible privately insured patients, the program provides an additional option to access timely treatment in a private hospital when clinically appropriate. Any transfer is entirely voluntary and only occurs with the patient’s informed consent,” he said.

“Importantly, it reduces the administrative burden on busy emergency department staff, allowing them to focus on caring for patients while we coordinate the transfer process.

“Patients benefit from faster access to care and treatment, while public hospitals benefit from improved patient flow and additional capacity at times of high demand.”

The Emergency Department Nurse Liaison program has already delivered positive outcomes at Ramsay hospitals in Queensland and Victoria.

Mr Rajcany said the initiative demonstrated the value of collaboration between the public and private healthcare sectors.

“Healthcare works best when public and private providers work together to meet the needs of the community,” he said.

“We know emergency departments are under enormous pressure, and this program is one way the private sector can work alongside public hospitals to help patients access the care they need sooner.”