Published Tuesday, 30 January, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
PUBLIC HOSPITALS SET NEW RECORD FOR PATIENTS TREATED
The percentage of urgent elective surgery patients waiting longer than recommended fell from 11.9% to 7.4% as at 1 January 2007, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
Mr Robertson said the latest Public Hospitals Performance report released today showed an improvement in category 1 waiting lists during December quarter 2006.
He said there were 187 ‘long wait’ category 1 patients compared to 360 in the September quarter.
“Another record quarter of total patients treated in Queensland public hospitals led to the best category 1 result in 18 months,” Mr Robertson said.
“Public hospitals treated a total 481,948 people as inpatients or emergencies including 28,454 elective surgery patients. The previous quarter’s total was 467,123.
“In the September quarter the percentage of category 1 patients – the most urgent elective surgery patients – waiting longer than three months was 11.9%.
“That figure has now dropped to 7.4%.
“This is a good outcome considering surgery activity during December quarter is always affected by staff and patient leave over the holiday period.
“While it’s an encouraging result for our public health system, I believe we can do better and, with extra doctors, nurses and allied health professionals working in a revitalised and restructured Queensland Health, we will do better.”
Mr Robertson said Queensland Health was still being challenged by worldwide shortages of doctors and nurses in certain specialties, such as theatre nurses and anaesthetists.
“These staff shortages, coupled with record patient demand and emergency care, have significantly affected semi-urgent and non-urgent elective surgery,” he said.
“During December quarter, the percentage of category 2 ‘long waits’ increased from 22.0% to 25.8% and category 3 ‘long waits’ increased from 32.9% to 34.1%.
“Through ongoing recruitment and other different strategies, some of our major hospitals expect to increase their surgical sessions which will hopefully increase the number of category 2 and 3 operations scheduled.”
Mr Robertson said the new report was further proof that Queensland public hospitals were busier than ever and treating more patients than ever.
“During December quarter, Queensland Health treated 342,221 people in accident and emergency - up 10,334 on the same period the previous year – and admitted 201,472 people to hospital – up 6,494 on the previous year.
“We also delivered 9,564 babies and provided outpatient services to more than two million people.
“For the first time, the quarterly report also details the number and nature of calls made to the 24-hour 13 HEALTH hotline.
“During the quarter, our dedicated 13 HEALTH staff assisted 41,446 callers.
“The overwhelming majority – 38,400 calls – were referred to a 13 HEALTH nurse who issued one-on-one expert advice to the caller.
“The 13 HEALTH statistics bring the total number of people Queensland Health either treated or supported through its broad range of health services during the quarter to more than 2.5 million.
“This includes both inpatients and outpatients and multiple occasions of service involving the same person.”
The Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report and Elective Surgery Waiting List Report can be found on the Queensland Health website: www.health.qld.gov.au.
30 January, 2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185
Mr Robertson said the latest Public Hospitals Performance report released today showed an improvement in category 1 waiting lists during December quarter 2006.
He said there were 187 ‘long wait’ category 1 patients compared to 360 in the September quarter.
“Another record quarter of total patients treated in Queensland public hospitals led to the best category 1 result in 18 months,” Mr Robertson said.
“Public hospitals treated a total 481,948 people as inpatients or emergencies including 28,454 elective surgery patients. The previous quarter’s total was 467,123.
“In the September quarter the percentage of category 1 patients – the most urgent elective surgery patients – waiting longer than three months was 11.9%.
“That figure has now dropped to 7.4%.
“This is a good outcome considering surgery activity during December quarter is always affected by staff and patient leave over the holiday period.
“While it’s an encouraging result for our public health system, I believe we can do better and, with extra doctors, nurses and allied health professionals working in a revitalised and restructured Queensland Health, we will do better.”
Mr Robertson said Queensland Health was still being challenged by worldwide shortages of doctors and nurses in certain specialties, such as theatre nurses and anaesthetists.
“These staff shortages, coupled with record patient demand and emergency care, have significantly affected semi-urgent and non-urgent elective surgery,” he said.
“During December quarter, the percentage of category 2 ‘long waits’ increased from 22.0% to 25.8% and category 3 ‘long waits’ increased from 32.9% to 34.1%.
“Through ongoing recruitment and other different strategies, some of our major hospitals expect to increase their surgical sessions which will hopefully increase the number of category 2 and 3 operations scheduled.”
Mr Robertson said the new report was further proof that Queensland public hospitals were busier than ever and treating more patients than ever.
“During December quarter, Queensland Health treated 342,221 people in accident and emergency - up 10,334 on the same period the previous year – and admitted 201,472 people to hospital – up 6,494 on the previous year.
“We also delivered 9,564 babies and provided outpatient services to more than two million people.
“For the first time, the quarterly report also details the number and nature of calls made to the 24-hour 13 HEALTH hotline.
“During the quarter, our dedicated 13 HEALTH staff assisted 41,446 callers.
“The overwhelming majority – 38,400 calls – were referred to a 13 HEALTH nurse who issued one-on-one expert advice to the caller.
“The 13 HEALTH statistics bring the total number of people Queensland Health either treated or supported through its broad range of health services during the quarter to more than 2.5 million.
“This includes both inpatients and outpatients and multiple occasions of service involving the same person.”
The Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report and Elective Surgery Waiting List Report can be found on the Queensland Health website: www.health.qld.gov.au.
30 January, 2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185