Published Thursday, 06 November, 2008 at 04:01 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
More patients, more surgery at Gladstone Hospital
Gladstone Hospital is treating more patients and performing more elective surgery, according to the latest Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said Gladstone Hospital treated 162 elective surgery patients in the September 2008 quarter, a 45.9 per cent increase on the June 2008 quarter.
“The report shows only one category 1 patient waited longer than 30 days for surgery,” Mr Robertson said.
“It shows three category two patients waited longer than 90 days for their surgery, down from 12 patients at 1 July, 2008, while two category three patients were waited longer than 365 days for their surgery.
“These figures demonstrate the Bligh Government’s $10 billion Health Action Plan is delivering better health services for Queenslanders.
“But we’re not resting on our laurels and will continue to do the hard yards to deliver Queenslanders the first class health services they expect and deserve.”
Gladstone Hospital treated 6613 people as inpatients or emergencies in the September quarter 2008, a 6.4 per cent increase from the previous quarter.
“With hospital admissions state-wide increasing by more than double population growth, I have endorsed the 8 point, ‘Whole-of-Hospital Plan’ developed by Senior Emergency Clinicians to reduce access block across our major public hospitals (attached) to reduce emergency department and admission waiting times even further,” Mr Robertson said.
The hospital treated 1581 inpatients in the September quarter 2008, up 6 per cent on the June quarter 2008.
Statewide, the September 2008 Quarterly Public Hospital Performance Report shows that compared to the same time last year there has been:
• a 5.8 per cent increase in emergency department attendances;
• a 5.9 per cent increase in hospital admissions;
• a 6.2 per cent increase in specialist outpatient appointments;
• an 8.9 per cent increase in elective surgery procedures;
• and a 17.6 per cent reduction in patients waiting longer than clinically desirable for their elective surgery.
The Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report (September 08 quarter) is available in the What's New section of the Queensland Health website at http://www.health.qld.gov.au/.
Ends.
MEDIA: Kate Van Poelgeest 3234 1185 or Martin Philip 3235 2680
Category 1 = urgent admission within 30 days desirable, for a condition that has the potential to deteriorate quickly to the point that it may become an emergency.
Category 2 = semi-urgent admission within 90 days desirable, for a condition causing some pain, dysfunction or disability but which is not likely to deteriorate quickly or become an emergency.
Category 3 = non-urgent admission at some time in the future acceptable, for a condition causing minimal or no pain, dysfunction or disability, which is unlikely to deteriorate quickly and which does not have the potential to become an emergency
People treated in emergency departments = the number of accident and emergency services provided. For example, a patient attends emergency three times, then it is counted as three separate attendances to the emergency department.
People treated as inpatients or emergencies = the number of admitted patient episodes plus the number of emergency services not resulting in admission. For example, some people will attend the emergency department and then be admitted to hospital. These people will only be counted once as inpatients and not counted as emergency patients for this particular figure.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said Gladstone Hospital treated 162 elective surgery patients in the September 2008 quarter, a 45.9 per cent increase on the June 2008 quarter.
“The report shows only one category 1 patient waited longer than 30 days for surgery,” Mr Robertson said.
“It shows three category two patients waited longer than 90 days for their surgery, down from 12 patients at 1 July, 2008, while two category three patients were waited longer than 365 days for their surgery.
“These figures demonstrate the Bligh Government’s $10 billion Health Action Plan is delivering better health services for Queenslanders.
“But we’re not resting on our laurels and will continue to do the hard yards to deliver Queenslanders the first class health services they expect and deserve.”
Gladstone Hospital treated 6613 people as inpatients or emergencies in the September quarter 2008, a 6.4 per cent increase from the previous quarter.
“With hospital admissions state-wide increasing by more than double population growth, I have endorsed the 8 point, ‘Whole-of-Hospital Plan’ developed by Senior Emergency Clinicians to reduce access block across our major public hospitals (attached) to reduce emergency department and admission waiting times even further,” Mr Robertson said.
The hospital treated 1581 inpatients in the September quarter 2008, up 6 per cent on the June quarter 2008.
Statewide, the September 2008 Quarterly Public Hospital Performance Report shows that compared to the same time last year there has been:
• a 5.8 per cent increase in emergency department attendances;
• a 5.9 per cent increase in hospital admissions;
• a 6.2 per cent increase in specialist outpatient appointments;
• an 8.9 per cent increase in elective surgery procedures;
• and a 17.6 per cent reduction in patients waiting longer than clinically desirable for their elective surgery.
The Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report (September 08 quarter) is available in the What's New section of the Queensland Health website at http://www.health.qld.gov.au/.
Ends.
MEDIA: Kate Van Poelgeest 3234 1185 or Martin Philip 3235 2680
Category 1 = urgent admission within 30 days desirable, for a condition that has the potential to deteriorate quickly to the point that it may become an emergency.
Category 2 = semi-urgent admission within 90 days desirable, for a condition causing some pain, dysfunction or disability but which is not likely to deteriorate quickly or become an emergency.
Category 3 = non-urgent admission at some time in the future acceptable, for a condition causing minimal or no pain, dysfunction or disability, which is unlikely to deteriorate quickly and which does not have the potential to become an emergency
People treated in emergency departments = the number of accident and emergency services provided. For example, a patient attends emergency three times, then it is counted as three separate attendances to the emergency department.
People treated as inpatients or emergencies = the number of admitted patient episodes plus the number of emergency services not resulting in admission. For example, some people will attend the emergency department and then be admitted to hospital. These people will only be counted once as inpatients and not counted as emergency patients for this particular figure.