Latest quarterly report shows record activity for Queensland hospitals

Queensland hospitals have treated record numbers patients this quarter according to the latest Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report.

Health Minster Stephen Robertson said there had been a massive increase in hospital activity since the same quarter last year, with almost 870 extra patients admitted to the State’s hospitals each week.

“The report clearly demonstrates this Government’s $10.5 billion investment in health means Queenslanders are getting better services, in better facilities, and are being treated more quickly.

In April, May and June 2008 an extra 5,316 patients received their elective surgery; a total of 33,732 people in the June quarter.

“This record 18.7 percent increase on the same quarter last year has been achieved despite growing demand for emergency and trauma surgery.

The June 2008 Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report also shows emergency admissions, the first priority of the hospital system are increasing rapidly, well in excess of population growth.

“There were over 265,200 emergency department presentations in 27 of our largest hospitals and hospital admissions rose by 10,438 to 219,295 (up 5 percent).

“These figures demonstrate the rapid growth in demand our health services continue to experience, almost four times our population growth, but we are seeing significant inroads made and this is good news for Queenslanders,” he said.

Mr Robertson said despite the improvement, there were still too many patients waiting longer than they should for their surgery, particularly children.

“The latest data shows there are 663 ‘long wait’ patients at the Royal Children’s Hospital alone - primarily in the specialties of ear, nose and throat and orthopaedic surgeries.

“This is not good enough and as part of our plan to combat this, the Government will extend the Surgery Connect program to treat up to 540 more kids in the next six months.

“We are investing $1.7 million over 6 months to tackle children’s ‘long wait’ elective surgery lists.

“This will mean more kids needing their tonsils removed for example, or tendon repairs and simple orthopaedic procedures, will be treated sooner,” he said.

“No one wants to see kids unwell and I don’t want to see them wait a day too long to get the treatment they need.”

“Queensland Health has implemented a number of strategies to reduce waiting lists, including significantly increasing funding and investing in statewide infrastructure, including rebuilding 8 major hospitals and building three new tertiary hospitals.

“The successful Surgery Connect program treats Category 2 and 3 ‘long wait’ public patients in the private sector, while we work to open more public beds and operating theatres,” Mr Robertson said.

“Significant reductions in the number of ‘long wait’ adult patients across all categories is a sign Surgery Connect is making a significant difference in improving access to elective surgery services for Queenslanders.

“The highest numbers of ‘long wait’ patients were in orthopaedics, general surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery.

“With a focus on orthopaedics and general surgery (as well as urology and endoscopy), we expect to see real inroads made into these lists when the QEII Elective Surgery Centre is commissioned.

The QEII centre will join Redcliffe and Caboolture dedicated elective surgery centres.

Mr Robertson said the recent State of Our Public Hospitals report, published by the Department of Health and Ageing in June 2008, indicated that in 2006-07 Queensland had the best elective surgery waiting time performance in the country with a median waiting time across all three categories of 25 days: the national average is 32 days.

“This report delivers promising news for Queensland,” Mr Robertson said.

“It also highlights the hard work or workforce of caring professionals who are rising to the challenge of providing excellent health care to Queenslanders.

Ends.

Media: Contact Kate Van Poelgeest on 3234 1185 or 0458 449 267.