Qld health system outperforming despite record demand

• New data highlights more Queensland patients are being transferred from ambulances to emergency departments faster with a 1% improvement compared to last quarter.
• 5,900 more patients were transferred off stretcher within 30 mins compared to this time last year, despite a record number of patients in the June quarter – over 592,000 patients presented in the June quarter, an increase of more than 8,000 patients compared to the same time last year.
• Queensland emergency departments also saw an increase in the most critical category one and two patients compared to the March quarter and compared to the same quarter last year.
• Average ambulance lost time also dropped by more than 4 minutes per ambulance and the media ED wait time dropped by 2 mins (4 mins better than under the LNP Government)

Despite record demand at Queensland emergency departments, new data unveiled today shows the health system is improving across several key measures including off patient stretcher time, ED wait time, and lost time per ambulance.

The June quarter ED performance data, released today, showed 5,900 more patients were transferred off stretcher within 30 mins compared to this time last year, despite a record number of patients.

Queensland emergency departments saw more than 592,000 patients in the same period, with 55.3 per cent of patients off-stretcher within 30 minutes.

Queensland hospitals had the busiest June quarter on record and a higher number of seriously ill patients, with category one and two presentations surging by over eight per cent.

Average ambulance lost time also dropped by more than four minutes per ambulance – meaning ambulances got back on the road sooner after taking patients to an emergency department.

The data comes despite Queensland hospitals seeing a surge in respiratory presentations in the June quarter, where there have been over 53,000 presentations for respiratory illness, an increase of 8.8 per cent, or more than 4,300 presentations, compared to the same period last year.

The Miles Government has invested significantly in boosting emergency department performance. Through the Putting Patients First plan, the state budget allocated $1.14 billion into boosting patient flow, including $27.8 million to continue to deliver the outcomes from last November’s ramping roundtable, allowing Queenslanders to return home sooner. This funding expands upon the $764 million invested in 2023-24.

These earlier investments have seen increased staffing, the implementation of Patient Flow Commanders in emergency departments, and the expansion of short-stay units to expedite patient care.

Challenges remain however, with more than 1,000 Queensland hospital beds occupied by people waiting for federally funded aged care and NDIS beds.

Full results for June quarter hospital performance, including elective and outpatient data will be released in mid-August.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman: 

“Despite record numbers of presentations across the board, the system is performing better on every measure.

“Despite a surge in serious presentations, respiratory illness and the busiest June quarter we’ve ever seen – more patients are being transferred more quickly into ED care.

“The median wait time in the ED for the June quarter was just 15 minutes – that’s a two-minute improvement and four minutes better than it was under the LNP.

“And average lost time per ambulance also dropped by more than four minutes.

“This is thanks to our hard-working paramedics, our hard-working ED doctors and nurses, and the extra investments we’ve been making.

“While there is more work to do, this data shows our investments and policies like nurse-led clinics, satellite hospitals, and the virtual ED are helping reduce pressures on emergency departments.

“We have a plan for the health system, and it is working.

“All the opposition has a plan for is cuts to more services and more health workers.

No amount of real time data, their only ‘policy’ idea, will help the health system once they’ve gutted it.”

ENDS

Media contact – Asaesja Young: 0423 339 899