Published Thursday, 06 November, 2008 at 04:10 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Sunshine Coast hospitals treating more patients than ever
Sunshine Coast Hospitals are treating more patients and providing more elective surgery than ever before, according to the latest Quarterly Public Hospital Performance Report.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the report for the September 2008 quarter revealed a dramatic increase in activity at Nambour, Caloundra and Gympie Hospitals.
Mr Robertson said the combined hospitals’ operating theatres performed 2,395 elective surgery procedures in the last quarter, up 260 on the same period last year.
“Nambour Hospital admitted 1,862 patients from the elective surgery waiting list, 245 more than the same period last year,” he said.
“Caloundra Hospital admitted 392 patients from the elective surgery waiting list (up 23 patients on same period last year) while Gympie Hospital admitted 141 patients (149 patients September 2007).
“Hospital staff have been working hard during the past year to improve elective surgery performance,” Mr Robertson said.
“About 50 per cent of Nambour Hospital’s category one patients received their treatment within seven days and 90 per cent were treated within 47 days.
“Meanwhile, 50 per cent of Caloundra Hospital’s category patients received their treatment within 19 days and 90 per cent were treated within 35 days.”
Mr Robertson said in the last three months, Nambour, Caloundra and Gympie hospitals provided 40,916 outpatient services, a 10.78 per cent increase on the same quarter in 2007.
Mr Robertson said the district opened a sixth theatre at Nambour General Hospital in August to specifically target elective surgery procedures and lift capacity by 600 cases a year.
“The staff have been doing a wonderful job keeping up with the increasing workload,” Mr Robertson said.
“I have nothing but praise for our dedicated staff and I thank them all for their hard work.
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 Definitions (Elective Surgery)
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.
Long-wait
Term applied to any waiting time that exceeds the recommendation for that category.
*Gympie General Hospital had no category one patients.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the report for the September 2008 quarter revealed a dramatic increase in activity at Nambour, Caloundra and Gympie Hospitals.
Mr Robertson said the combined hospitals’ operating theatres performed 2,395 elective surgery procedures in the last quarter, up 260 on the same period last year.
“Nambour Hospital admitted 1,862 patients from the elective surgery waiting list, 245 more than the same period last year,” he said.
“Caloundra Hospital admitted 392 patients from the elective surgery waiting list (up 23 patients on same period last year) while Gympie Hospital admitted 141 patients (149 patients September 2007).
“Hospital staff have been working hard during the past year to improve elective surgery performance,” Mr Robertson said.
“About 50 per cent of Nambour Hospital’s category one patients received their treatment within seven days and 90 per cent were treated within 47 days.
“Meanwhile, 50 per cent of Caloundra Hospital’s category patients received their treatment within 19 days and 90 per cent were treated within 35 days.”
Mr Robertson said in the last three months, Nambour, Caloundra and Gympie hospitals provided 40,916 outpatient services, a 10.78 per cent increase on the same quarter in 2007.
Mr Robertson said the district opened a sixth theatre at Nambour General Hospital in August to specifically target elective surgery procedures and lift capacity by 600 cases a year.
“The staff have been doing a wonderful job keeping up with the increasing workload,” Mr Robertson said.
“I have nothing but praise for our dedicated staff and I thank them all for their hard work.
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 Definitions (Elective Surgery)
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.
Long-wait
Term applied to any waiting time that exceeds the recommendation for that category.
*Gympie General Hospital had no category one patients.