QEII Jubilee Hospital copes with high demand

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital continues to treat more patients as public demand for health services continues to grow, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson said Queensland Health’s Quarterly Public Hospital Performance Report shows QEII Hospital’s emergency department treated 8,241 people during the December 2007 quarter.

“This is a 6.1% increase on the 7,765 patients treated during the same quarter in 2006 and represents an average 90 people receiving medical attention each day,” he said.

“The report paints a similar picture of increased demand for outpatient services.

“During the December quarter, QEII Hospital also provided 15,281 occasions of service to patients through its specialist outpatient clinics – a 2% increase over the same period last year.

“The hospital also treated 10,256 people as inpatients or emergencies during the December 2007 quarter, an increase of 1% from the 10,155 people treated in the December quarter 2006.

Mr Robertson said QEII Hospital performed 1,214 elective surgery procedures during the December 2007 quarter.

“On 1 January 2008, there were 1,274 patients on elective surgery waiting lists compared to 1,430 patients on 1 January 2007.

“Of those, 165 or 13% of patients were waiting longer than nationally recommended for surgery on 1 January 2008 compared to 214 or 15% of patients on 1 January 2007.”

“QEII Hospital staff are to be commended for their hard work and dedication to meeting the challenges of a growing and ageing population,” Mr Robertson said.

Copies of the Queensland Public Hospital Performance Reports can be found on the Queensland Health website at: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/

MEDIA: PAUL LYNCH 3234 1190