Impact of 2018 Commonwealth Games on Gold Coast Emergency Departments
Quick facts
In 2018, the Gold Coast hosted one of the largest sporting mass gathering events in the country. The Commonwealth Games attracted approximately 1 million visitors to the region, over two weeks. Current gaps in the literature make it difficult to plan for service provision.
Using a pragmatic mixed methods research design, this study will be conducted across five Emergency Departments on the Gold Coast: two public (GCUH and Robina Hospital) and three private (Gold Coast, Pindara and John Flynn Private Hospitals).
This research aims to explore healthcare staff experience of planning, preparedness and lessons learnt to provide a resource for future planners of mass gathering events within the region, nationally, and internationally.
“This research project represents an international first, exploring the impact of a mass gathering event on all Emergency Departments within a region. The knowledge generated from this project will inform robust planning, to improve preparedness and service delivery, at any location.”
—Prof Julia Crilly