Local health service management reaps rewards for Darling Downs patients

Waiting times for semi-urgent surgery and dental care have been slashed in the Darling Downs region according to the latest quarterly report, which shows dramatic improvements in frontline health services.
Health Minister Mr Lawrence Springborg said patients across the Darling Downs were receiving health care faster since the establishment of local hospital and health boards.
“The figures speak for themselves as they show massive improvements in a number of key areas that have directly improved patient care across the Darling Downs,” Mr Springborg said.
“The waiting list for general dental care has been slashed by 80 per cent, so, in the year to March, around 5,000 people have been able to access non-urgent care within the clinically recommended timeframe.”
Mr Springborg said the greatest improvement in surgery waiting times had been in the semi-urgent category where patients needed surgery within 90 days.
“Between January and March 2012, 58 per cent of patients received surgery within three months.
“By the same period this year, no patients waited longer than clinically recommended for any category of surgery,” he said.
“There’s also a great story to tell in local emergency departments with an 18 per cent improvement in the percentage of patients admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours since the first quarter of 2012.
“What this means is that 83 per cent of patients received treatment within four hours, compared with 65 per cent two years ago.”
Mr Springborg said funding from the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board had enabled the massive turnaround in positive patient outcomes.
“Management and staff have worked hard to ensure appropriate systems are in place to focus on achieving better health care for the people of the Darling Downs,” he said.”
The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board manages 20 hospitals and six residential aged care facilities in Toowoomba, the Darling Downs, Southern Downs, part of the Western Downs, and South Burnett.
[ENDS] 16 May 2014
Media contact: Ian Eckersley, Senior Media Advisor  0432 754 897