ALMOST one in six patients at the Tamworth emergency department (ED) had complications following their visits, a new survey has found.
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The figures were revealed in an annual report, published by the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) on experiences in the emergency departments throughout NSW.
A visit to the ED in NSW is often unplanned, but people still had a largely positive experience with about nine-in-10 patients rating their care as good or very good.
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The survey was completed by about 16,000 patients across the state in the last financial year, including more than 250 in Tamworth.
It found 15 per cent of Tamworth patients experienced a complication during or shortly after their ED visit.
This was up from a complication rate of 11 per cent registered in the previous patient survey.
This was higher than rates across the Hunter New England Local Health District (9 per cent), similarly sized hospitals (10 per cent) and across the state (9 per cent).
The highest rate of complications were experienced among people aged 18 to 34 years with 21 per cent claiming they had a problem.
Twenty per cent of patients aged 55 and older experienced complications.
Hunter New England director of rural and regional health Susan Heyman said the data could be seen as not "statistically significant or reliable" because of the relatively small number of responses.
However, Ms Heyman said patient input like this was still valued.
"Tamworth was formerly known as a base hospital, which means it draws patients in from across the region," she said.
"It's generally more complex and more specialised care.
"The people presenting are more likely to have serious illnesses and require procedures."
While the rate of complications at Tamworth was higher than statewide averages, the survey did show patients were largely happy with the care and the facility's health professionals.
Eighty-four per cent of patients said they had trust and confidence in the ED health professionals treating them.
More than three-quarters of patients said they had enough time to discuss their medical issue with the ED doctors.
While 81 per cent of Tamworth survey respondents said the ED health professionals explained things in an understandable way.