Record number of admissions at NSW emergency departments

The number of patients leaving NSW emergency departments within four hours has taken a tumble, while the number of admissions has surged to record highs.

Meanwhile, the number of elective surgeries performed on time has also slipped, new Bureau of Health Information (BHI) figures reveal.

More than 672,000 patients visited NSW emergency departments between January and March this year.

The figure climbed by 4 per cent - or 27,000 more patients - compared to last year and notched up a new record.

At the same time, the number of emergency services performed over the period dipped to 49,000.

"Despite the reduction in elective surgeries performed, fewer patients received their surgery on time compared with the same time one year ago," BHI chief executive Jean-Frederic Levesque said.

Some 97 per cent of patients received their elective surgeries within clinically recommended timeframes, a dip of 1 per cent.

Patients who left emergency departments within four hours dropped slightly to 74 per cent.

The figures also revealed 91 per cent of patients who arrived at emergency departments by ambulance were transferred to hospital staff within 30 minutes.