"Refusal of care for an aged care recipient"

I am a Registered Nurse (RN) in an aged care facility. We have been caring for evacuees from a bushfire affected area by providing beds in our facility.

One resident became acutely unwell in my opinion and after assessment I decided there was a need for this person to be assessed by an emergency room Dr. I was triaged by a paramedic and the transfer was deemed necessary. When I rang, under no obligation mind you, to give a handover to our local Emergency Department (ED) I was told by the RN in charge not to send the person as ED was too busy to accept them. I explained that I believe the person was too unwell to remain in the facility. I was told very clearly that I should call in the Duty Dr and if I sent the person the ambulance would be held on a queue. I guess as RN's I find it difficult that that call could be made without getting advice from a Dr. It seems to me that the decision was based on how busy ED was and not on how unwell the resident was.

It eventuated that the person was admitted and has a terminal diagnosis, and I felt our facility was not equipped to keep the person comfortable without the help of the acute setting.