Toowoomba Hospital leads the nation

New data from an independent health agency shows that Toowoomba and Mackay Hospitals are leading the country with the shortest lengths of stay for patients at emergency departments (EDs) in major regional hospitals.

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 has 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 Toowoomba was a standout performer for the five quarters between October 2012 and December 2013 for the peer group of major regional hospitals.

“In 2013, Toowoomba Hospital saw 79 per cent of patients depart within four hours, up from 67 per cent in 2012,” Mr Springborg said.

“The hospital joins Mackay in topping the major regional hospitals peer group, for all five quarters represented in the report.”

The NHPA report includes performance data on 20 Queensland public hospitals – nine major metropolitan, eight major regional, two large metropolitan and one large regional.

“Toowoomba was one of six Queensland hospitals to report performance in the highest 10 per cent of hospitals in their peer group nationally,” Mr Springborg said.

“Others in the top six were the Mater Adult, Ipswich, the Prince Charles, Mackay and Mount Isa Hospitals.

“Between 2012 and 2013, 19 of the 20 Queensland hospitals reported improvement in performance, which is an outstanding result for the state.

“Eight hospitals 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.

[ENDS] 29 May 2014

Media contact: Ian Eckersley Senior Media Advisor 0432 754 897