Holding our breath: risks associated with delayed access to outpatient respiratory and sleep care in lower socioeconomic areas in northern Adelaide

Prolonged waiting times for respiratory and sleep care can cause mortality and morbidity. Our audit of the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) Respiratory Unit showed delays in outpatient assessment and failure to meet guideline-based recommendations, with potentially associated harm including emergency department presentations and mortality. Improvements are needed to reduce waiting times, especially for conditions with poorer prognoses and to address health inequity in lower socioeconomic populations.