Townsville Hospital patients seen faster

Patients waiting for surgery at the Townsville Hospital are being seen faster than ever, the latest Queensland Health performance data reveals.
The number of patients at the Townsville Hospital waiting longer than the clinically recommended times for their surgery has dropped dramatically from 747 in March 2012 to 39 in March 2014.
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said the data showed a fantastic improvement in the hospital’s elective surgery waits across all three categories – urgent, semi-urgent and non-urgent.
“All patients needing surgery within 30 days are receiving it; a 100 per cent compared with 89 per cent in 2012.  For semi urgent surgery 95 per cent of patients receive it now within time compared to 61 per cent two years ago.
“For non-urgent surgery, Townsville now see 99 per cent of patients within the required time, compared to 62 per cent in the same period in 2012.
“The Newman Government committed to revitalizing and improving frontline health services,” Mr Springborg said. “We are delivering on the promise. Across Queensland, health has a brighter future under the Newman Government.
“For Townsville to have improved their services so markedly is an exceptional achievement and I congratulate the hospital staff for their hard work in improving productivity in elective surgery.
“The commitment of staff is paying handsome dividends for the Townsville community and I know the Board is delighted with the HHS’ achievements, and deservedly so.”
The Minister said in further good news, the number of long-wait patients for general dental care in the Townsville Hospital and Health Service had dropped to zero.
“In March 2013, there were 2,207 people waiting longer than two years for general dental care.  In March 2014, there were none. I applaud the oral health services team which has facilitated the outsourcing of some dental services through the voucher scheme,” he said.
Mr Springborg said emergency wait times had also markedly improved.
“In the January to March period 2014, 78 per cent of patients were seen, treated or admitted within the national four-hour target, up from 62 per cent for the same period two years ago.”
[ENDS] 16 May 2014

Media Contact: Cameron Thompson 0407-585230