Additional frontline staff help manage growing demand for health services

The Department of Health’s 2016-17 Annual Report reflects a financial year where the challenges of rising demand have been met with huge reductions in the number of people waiting longer than clinically recommended for specialist outpatient appointments and the delivery of a $65 million surplus across the system.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services Cameron Dick said the achievements illustrated in the report, which was tabled to Parliament today, were made as the Palaszczuk Government continued to restore frontline services and pass life-changing legislation.

“We continue to deliver on our promise to deliver frontline services decimated by the previous Newman-Nicholls LNP government, with the commencement of 3443 new nursing graduates within two years, 121 new nurse navigators and 110 additional ambulance officers,” he said.

Mr Dick said the delivery of more healthcare workers and better health services were achieved in the face of significantly increased demand, with more people utilising public healthcare services than ever before.

“The fact remains, however, that demand for emergency departments and ambulances is at an all- time high, with Emergency Department presentations increasing by 25,000, and the QAS attending 86,000 incidents a month – a 15 per cent increase on when the previous government was in power,” he said.

“Last financial year, we saw more than 1.75 million presentations to Emergency Departments across the state.

“The report illustrates that we are providing more care to more patients each year, with a growing and aging population being key contributors to the increase in demand.”

Mr Dick said despite Queensland’s increasing population, the Palaszczuk Government’s Specialist Outpatient Strategy had substantially reduced the number of people waiting longer than clinically recommended for specialist outpatient appointments.

The number fell by 20,000 in 2016–17 to 38,500, compared with 104,000 in 2015.

“With such a dramatic increase in throughput, it would be reasonable to expect an increase in waiting times for elective surgery as specialists added a percentage of the additional patients coming through the system to the elective surgery waiting list,” he said.

“That list, however, has also been cut, from 324 to 99 – the best result since this measure began being reported in 2002.

“The targets were met and surpassed despite the disaster of Cyclone Debbie earlier this year, which impacted thousands of Queensland Health and QAS staff. I commend staff across the State for the tenacity they show and hard work they do each and every day.”

Minister Dick said the Government’s continued strong support of Queensland’s public health system was fundamentally important in order to meet growing demand.

“It’s no secret that demand pressures on the system continue to grow,” Mr Dick said.

“Queensland hospitals are treating a record number of patients and those patients have more complex needs than ever before.

“We will continue to provide high quality services in world-class facilities as close to home as possible, and with dedicated staff providing the care that people need and deserve.”

Further highlights include:

• 170 new and replacement ambulances
• commencing the rollout of a $27 million My Health for Life program
• providing free Meningococcal ACWY vaccinations for all Year 10 students
• investing $16.2 million towards three Step Up Step Down mental health facilities in Gladstone, Mackay and Bundaberg
• implementing the Queensland Sexual Health Strategy 2016-2021, backed by
  $5.27 million in funding.

Mr Dick said health care had further been improved through the implementation of the nurse to patient ratio legislation in 27 facilities and 154 wards throughout the state – legislation the LNP disappointingly voted against.

Other important legislation includes the passing of the Mental Health Amendment Act 2017 and the prescription of medicinal cannabis to some patients.

Mr Dick said that during the year the $1.417 billion investment in new and upgraded infrastructure had generated 1500 jobs.

“A particularly significant achievement was the completion of the new $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital,” he said.

The Department of Health’s annual report can be access at https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/tabled-papers/online-tabled-papers/annual-reports

Media contact: Joe Begley 0437 443 404