Queensland hospitals record busiest June quarter

• Queensland is leading the nation when it comes to elective surgeries, treating almost 38,000 patients during the June 2024 quarter – a new record.
• More than eight in 10 patients were treated in time – better than the same time last year.
• The number of elective surgery long waits plummeted by almost 50 per cent in just 12 months.

Queensland’s hospitals have set a record for the most public elective surgeries performed in a June quarter, overcoming growing demand to treat more patients within clinically recommended timeframes.

The latest hospital performance data shows 37,682 public patients underwent surgery between April and June –1,361 more than the same period last year.

Other planned care highlights for the June 2024 quarter include:

• a 4.1 percentage point improvement in the number of patients being treated on time, from 78.5 per cent in June 2023 quarter to 82.6 per cent
• a six-day reduction in median wait time for elective surgery patients on the waitlist
• a 49.6 per cent decrease in the number of patients on the long wait list who were ready for surgery, from 6,053 in the June 2023 quarter to 3,053
• More than 10 per cent increase in elective surgeries in the Wide Bay, Darling Downs and Gold Coast Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) and
• More than 10 percentage point improvement in the number of patients treated on time in the Wide Bay, Darling Downs and Cairns and Hinterland HHSs, compared to June Quarter 2023

More than half of the surgeries performed in the latest quarter were for the specialties of general surgery (9,061), orthopaedic surgery (5,731) and gynaecology (5,148).

There was also a surge in specialist outpatient activity in the June 2024 quarter, with 195,699 people attending their first outpatient appointment – over 18,000 more than in the corresponding period last year. The median wait time for an initial appointment was 38 days.

As announced last month, Queensland’s emergency departments also had their busiest June quarter on record, seeing more than 592,000 patients and reducing median wait time from 17 minutes to 15.

The positive June quarter builds on an impressive run of results for the public health system, with both the March 2024 and December 2023 quarters reported vast improvements in emergency care responses, elective surgery output and specialist outpatient appointment activity.

These results are in part thanks to the Miles Government’s successful Satellite Hospital Program that has been more than 100,000 patients through their Minor Injury and Illness Clinics that opened in the second half of 2023.

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

“The results of the June quarter are remarkable. They highlight the dedication of our health workers, who work tirelessly to ensure Queenslanders are receiving the care they need, when they need it.

“In addition to providing care to a record number of Queenslanders, our wonderful surgical staff also treated more patients within clinically recommended timeframes.

“Despite more people needing elective surgery than ever before, the data shows we are getting through them quicker with the long waitlist halved in just 12 months.

“This means Queenslanders are getting their life-changing surgeries sooner.

“We also recorded a huge increase in initial specialist outpatient appointments, meaning more patients have taken a significant step forward in their healthcare journey.

“The number of Tier 3’s increased slightly but remain steady, and we know that’s heavily impacted by the winter flu season where respiratory patients tend to stay longer.

“When I became Health Minister, I said I was committed to addressing the healthcare pressures that we know Queenslanders are experiencing, and I’m incredibly proud to see these latest results.

“It shows that the Miles Government’s strategies, like our $1.14 billion Putting Patients First plan, are working. 

“These fantastic results have only been possible because of our hardworking staff, and I am committed to working with them to deliver better care sooner.”

ENDS