Published Tuesday, 20 March, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Cairns Base Hospital busier than ever
Cairns Base Hospital recorded major increases in admissions, Emergency Department attendances, dialysis treatments and a range of other activities in 2006, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
During a visit to Cairns Hospital today, Mr Robertson said total admissions for 2006 – comprising same day and overnight admissions – were 40,202, which was 7 per cent higher than the 37,591 admissions recorded for 2005.
“Last year’s increase in admissions followed a 10 per cent rise in admissions between 2004 and 2005,” he said.
“Emergency Department attendances also jumped, with the ED recording its busiest year ever in 2006, with 35,363 attendances – up nearly 6.8 per cent on 2005’s figure of 33,124. This followed a 6 per cent rise in attendances from 2004 to 2005.
“The rates of growth in admissions, Emergency Department attendances and most other activities at the hospital continue to be much higher than the Cairns region’s current annual population growth rate of 2.4 per cent or the long-term average growth rate over the past 30 years of 3 per cent.
“Other increases in hospital activity recorded during 2006 included dialysis, which jumped 10.5 per cent from 10,539 treatments in 2005 to 11,647 treatments in 2006.
“Oncology was up 33.4 per cent from 2,513 treatments in 2005 to 3,353 in 2006. This followed a 43.7 per cent rise in oncology treatments from 2004 to 2005.
“Oncology activity at Cairns Base Hospital has continued to increase by leaps and bounds since the appointment of the first full-time staff oncologist in August 2004.
“In addition, the new Cardiac Catheter Laboratory – which opened in January 2006 – resulted in 546 angiograms being carried out at the hospital last year.”
Mr Robertson said surgery was down slightly in 2006, recording a 2.5 per cent drop from 8,164 procedures in 2005 – elective and non-elective – to 7955 in 2006.
He said the drop was due to a reduction in elective surgery activity last year due to a shortage of key staff such as anaesthetists and theatre nurses, particularly during the second part of the year.
“I am advised that these shortages are being addressed with a new orthopaedic consultant starting work in January to fill a vacancy in this specialty.
“Also, two new anaesthetists started before Christmas and two more are due to start by April-May.
“A number of nursing vacancies in the surgical theatres are also being filled progressively with the steady arrival of 150 newly recruited nurses from the United Kingdom over the next few months.”
Mr Robertson said Cairns continued to recruit more staff to meet growing demands for health services.
“The Cairns and Hinterland Health District now employs 273 doctors, 1,620 nurses and 291 allied health professionals.
“That’s a net gain of 58 doctors, 190 nurses and 47 allied health professionals since June 2005.”
20 March, 2007
MEDIA: MATTHEW JUTSUM 3225 2680
During a visit to Cairns Hospital today, Mr Robertson said total admissions for 2006 – comprising same day and overnight admissions – were 40,202, which was 7 per cent higher than the 37,591 admissions recorded for 2005.
“Last year’s increase in admissions followed a 10 per cent rise in admissions between 2004 and 2005,” he said.
“Emergency Department attendances also jumped, with the ED recording its busiest year ever in 2006, with 35,363 attendances – up nearly 6.8 per cent on 2005’s figure of 33,124. This followed a 6 per cent rise in attendances from 2004 to 2005.
“The rates of growth in admissions, Emergency Department attendances and most other activities at the hospital continue to be much higher than the Cairns region’s current annual population growth rate of 2.4 per cent or the long-term average growth rate over the past 30 years of 3 per cent.
“Other increases in hospital activity recorded during 2006 included dialysis, which jumped 10.5 per cent from 10,539 treatments in 2005 to 11,647 treatments in 2006.
“Oncology was up 33.4 per cent from 2,513 treatments in 2005 to 3,353 in 2006. This followed a 43.7 per cent rise in oncology treatments from 2004 to 2005.
“Oncology activity at Cairns Base Hospital has continued to increase by leaps and bounds since the appointment of the first full-time staff oncologist in August 2004.
“In addition, the new Cardiac Catheter Laboratory – which opened in January 2006 – resulted in 546 angiograms being carried out at the hospital last year.”
Mr Robertson said surgery was down slightly in 2006, recording a 2.5 per cent drop from 8,164 procedures in 2005 – elective and non-elective – to 7955 in 2006.
He said the drop was due to a reduction in elective surgery activity last year due to a shortage of key staff such as anaesthetists and theatre nurses, particularly during the second part of the year.
“I am advised that these shortages are being addressed with a new orthopaedic consultant starting work in January to fill a vacancy in this specialty.
“Also, two new anaesthetists started before Christmas and two more are due to start by April-May.
“A number of nursing vacancies in the surgical theatres are also being filled progressively with the steady arrival of 150 newly recruited nurses from the United Kingdom over the next few months.”
Mr Robertson said Cairns continued to recruit more staff to meet growing demands for health services.
“The Cairns and Hinterland Health District now employs 273 doctors, 1,620 nurses and 291 allied health professionals.
“That’s a net gain of 58 doctors, 190 nurses and 47 allied health professionals since June 2005.”
20 March, 2007
MEDIA: MATTHEW JUTSUM 3225 2680