Gold Coast Health Board delivers a bonus for local health care

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg has praised the financial performance of the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service Board, which will redirect a budget surplus to boost activity in the first year of its new university hospital. 

Noting the tabling of the GCHHS annual report today, Mr Springborg said the board delivered a $5.98 million surplus for 2012-13 that would be reinvested to reduce outpatient waiting times.

“Ninety per cent of patients on the Gold Coast now have their elective surgery within the time frames recommended by their doctors,” Mr Springborg said.

“Injecting its surplus into this mix will help the Gold Coast reach the ideal situation where all patients receive surgery within recommended timeframes.

“For example, although wait times for crucial cancer diagnostic investigations using endoscopy were slashed by 75 per cent last year, we will continue to strive for improvement.

“The Gold Coast’s achievements are more remarkable when you consider that 12,700 surgical procedures were performed in 2012-13, a 6 per cent increase on 2011-12.

“An innovative partnership with the private sector allowed the Gold Coast to slash local waiting lists by more than 400 ear, nose and throat patients.”
 
Mr Springborg said GCHHS also improved its emergency department access with eight out of 10 patients now seen and treated within four hours, compared to just five out of 10 in 2010.

Other highlights for GCHHS in the 2012-13 financial year can be found in its first annual report and include:

• the opening of the $36.3 million Robina Health Precinct on 18 July 2012, including 10 surgical short stay beds and 10 surgical orthopaedic beds
• the opening of two additional operating theatres at Robina Hospital
• mental health patient follow-up appointments (within seven days of discharge) improved from 36 per cent in August 2012 to 74 per cent in May 2013
• 12,029 home visits provided to mothers and infants to support timely discharge from hospital
• 72 per cent of staff employed in clinical roles at June 2013
• 11 private practice midwifes being granted special access to Gold Coast Hospital and now able to provide care in the hospital and community
• 300 volunteers provided approximately 30,000 hours of service helping patients and staff
• 76 per cent increase in compliments and 15 per cent decrease in complaints
• oral health waiting lists reduced by nearly 68 per cent from 6,558 to 2,134 patients waiting to be contacted, and no wait for emergency dental services

The Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service Annual Report 2012-13 is available at http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/tabled-papers/online-tabled-papers.   

[ENDS] 2 October 2013

Media contact: Cameron Thompson 0407 585 230