Health performance at record levels despite demand pressures

A record number of people are receiving treatment within clinically-recommended time frames in Queensland’s public hospitals, despite extreme demand challenges.  

The Service Delivery Statement for Queensland Health has demonstrated Queensland’s improved performance against the National Emergency Access Target, with 79 per cent of patients meeting the four hour recommended treatment time - a level never achieved before in Queensland.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick said the number of Queenslanders waiting longer than clinically recommended for a specialist outpatient appointment had been significantly reduced under the current government.

“When the Palaszczuk Government came to power, 100,000 Queenslanders were waiting longer than clinically recommended for a specialist appointment,” Mr Dick said.

“That number is now less than 80,000.

“This is a real reduction achieved despite increased demand and pressure on Queensland’s hospitals.”

The health system is also delivering elective surgery procedures with record speed.  

“State Budget papers report that for the last financial year, 98 per cent of Category 1 and Category 3 patients received their elective surgery within clinically recommended times, as well as 94 per cent of Category 2 patients.

According to new Queensland Health figures, growth in demand for health services is outstripping growth in the employment of new health staff by a ratio of around two to one.

Since 2013-14, emergency department presentations have risen around 4.5 per cent a year and elective surgery has increased 6.5 per cent a year.

“Queensland’s hospitals are undertaking more elective surgery activity and seeing more people through their emergency departments than ever before,” Mr Dick said.

“That’s why we are increasing our investment in health, including providing an extra $1 billion in Tuesday’s budget, taking the total health budget to $15.3 billion.

“A huge proportion of that budget goes straight to frontline services – it goes directly to employing doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in our hospitals.

“And even though we’ve rebuilt our frontline services in the past few years, the amount of work they’re undertaking has grown faster.”

Health Demand

• Ambulance demand: Calls to Queensland Ambulance Service for help have increased about 5 per cent in the last 12 months.
• Emergency department presentations: ED presentations are growing around 4.5 per cent a year. Of significant concern is the much higher rates of lower severity presentations (such as category three), which grew at an alarming 13 per cent.
• Elective surgery: The number of Queenslanders receiving elective surgery is increasing around 6.5 per cent a year.
• Health staff: The number of doctors, nurses and other health staff employed in Queensland Health is increasing around 2.8 per cent a year.

“Our government has committed to restoring frontline services to help meet demand, and the figures show we are forging ahead on delivering that commitment,” Mr Dick said.

“More than 3000 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals injected into the health system in the last financial year are dealing with rising demand on health services efficiently and in ways which are delivering quality outcomes for patients.

“Queensland’s hospitals are responding to growth in demand for services faster than employee numbers are rising, and this is a credit to the dedicated health workers staffing them.”

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:   Anika Hume 0439 253 815