Published Thursday, 08 February, 2007 at 10:11 AM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
RECORD YEAR FOR PUBLIC HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS
Mr Robertson told State Parliament that emergency departments last year treated over 14,000 more patients than the 2005 total (839,992) and over 168,000 more patients than 2000 (685,934).
“On current trends, I expect our EDs to be treating over a million people every year by the end of the decade,” Mr Robertson said.
“Our public health system is treating and supporting more Queenslanders every quarter.
“Last week’s performance report was further proof that our hospitals are busier than ever before.
“Nowhere are the unprecedented challenges of a growing and ageing population more pronounced than in our emergency departments.”
Mr Robertson said two of the busiest hospitals last year were in the north with Townsville’s ED attending to more than 54,000 patients, 7.8 percent up on the previous year, and Cairns treating more than 35,000, a 6.8 percent increase.
“The biggest jump was recorded in Redcliffe, up 8 percent on 2005 with over 45,000 patients which was brought about in part through Caboolture’s temporary reduction in ED services last year,” he said.
“Bundaberg and Rockhampton also recorded solid increases as did both children’s hospitals in Brisbane. Most other EDs in South East Queensland were up on 2005.”
Mr Robertson said EDs were also having to treat more serious and complex cases which require more hospital resources and specialist staff.
“Overall our EDs recorded an 8.9 percent jump in category 1 cases. These cases are mostly life threatening and almost always require immediate resuscitation.
“They often require emergency surgery which puts pressure on hospitals’ capacity to perform elective surgery.
“Category two and three cases increased by 6.1 percent and 7 percent respectively while the less urgent categories – 4 and 5 – each fell.
“The dedicated staff in our public hospitals deserve our utmost praise for dealing with this extraordinary number of people flowing through our EDs.
“This demand will only continue to grow in future years which is why our Government has already commenced a massive capital works program in the health sector.
“Emergency departments from Cairns to the Gold Coast are being upgraded as part of the program.
“The Prince Charles Hospital’s new general emergency department will open in a matter of weeks as part of a $108 million redevelopment.”
Emergency Department Attendances, 2005 and 2006 Calendar Years, Queensland Reporting Hospitals
|
Emergency Department Attendances, 2005 and 2006 Calendar Years, Queensland Reporting Hospitals | ||||
|
Facility |
2005 attendances |
2006 attendances |
% variance |
|
|
BundabergHospital |
28,189 |
29,693 |
5.3% |
|
|
CabooltureHospital |
33,890 |
30,501 |
-10.0% |
|
|
CairnsBaseHospital |
33,124 |
35,392 |
6.8% |
|
|
GoldCoastHospital |
62,940 |
65,219 |
3.6% |
|
|
HerveyBayHospital |
31,838 |
32,226 |
1.2% |
|
|
IpswichHospital |
43,271 |
44,075 |
1.9% |
|
|
LoganHospital |
58,300 |
59,416 |
1.9% |
|
|
MackayBaseHospital |
33,497 |
33,210 |
-0.9% |
|
|
MaterAdultsHospital |
28,419 |
26,596 |
-6.4% |
|
|
Mater Children's Hospital |
35,392 |
36,968 |
4.5% |
|
|
Mt Isa Hospital |
38,754 |
37,605 |
-3.0% |
|
|
NambourHospital |
31,323 |
32,639 |
4.2% |
|
|
PrincessAlexandraHospital |
42,562 |
43,039 |
1.1% |
|
|
QEIIHospital |
30,172 |
30,682 |
1.7% |
|
|
RedcliffeHospital |
41,984 |
45,351 |
8.0% |
|
|
RedlandHospital |
39,108 |
39,442 |
0.9% |
|
|
RockhamptonHospital |
37,204 |
39,035 |
4.9% |
|
|
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital |
72,438 |
71,462 |
-1.3% |
|
|
Royal Children's Hospital |
25,839 |
26,832 |
3.8% |
|
|
The TownsvilleHospital |
50,619 |
54,561 |
7.8% |
|
|
ToowoombaBaseHospital |
41,129 |
40,322 |
-2.0% |
|
|
QUEENSLAND |
839,992 |
854,266 |
1.7% |
|
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185