Mater and Ipswich slash time spent in emergency

New data from an independent health agency shows that the Ipswich and Mater Adult Hospitals are the best performing emergency departments (ED) in the country with the shortest lengths of stay for patients.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said the report by the National Health Performance Authority (NHPA) also revealed that between 2012 and 2013, 19 of the 20 Queensland hospitals reported improvement in ED performance.

“The Queensland Government had a strong health plan which is providing a brighter future and better outcomes for patients,” Mr Springborg said.

“These results are a clear indication that our policies are working and are a vast improvement on the failing health system that we inherited from Labor.”

 The NHPA Report reviews the number of patients who depart EDs within four hours of arrival across 112 of Australia’s public hospitals.

 Mr Springborg said the Mater Adult and Ipswich Hospitals were standout performers for the five quarters between October 2012 and December 2013 for the peer group of major metropolitan hospitals.

 “The results are further independent** validation that the Queensland Health continues to make massive efficiency gains and improvements under the Newman Government,” he said.

 “In 2013, the Mater Adult saw 82 per cent of patients depart within four hours, with Ipswich hitting 80 per cent.

 “Mackay and Toowoomba led the way for the major regional hospitals, with 79 per cent of patients departing within four hours.

 “And across the state in 2013, six of the 20 Queensland hospitals reported performance in the highest 10 per cent of hospitals in their peer group nationally.

 “These were the Mater Adult, Ipswich, the Prince Charles, Mackay, Toowoomba and Mount Isa Hospitals.”

 Mr Springborg said the NHPA report included performance data on 20 Queensland public hospitals – nine major metropolitan, eight major regional, two large metropolitan and one large regional.

 “It’s an outstanding result that between 2012 and 2013, 19 of the 20 Queensland hospitals reported an improvement in performance,” he said.

 “Eight reported performance that met the Queensland target (77 per cent) for 2013, up from six in 2012.”

 For the last two calendar years Queensland has ranked second in Australia behind Western Australia for ED presentations with a length of stay of four hours or less.

 Queensland performed at 75.6 per cent in 2013, up from 66.9 per cent in 2012, while Western Australia scored 77.8 per cent and 78.5 per cent respectively.

 ** The National Health Performance Authority is an independent agency that monitors and reports on the performance of local health care organisations, including hospitals, around the country.**

[ENDS] 29 May 2014

Media contact: Ian Eckersley 0432 754 897