Published Thursday, 06 November, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
More children get elective surgery at Royal Children’s Hospital
Brisbane’s Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) has stepped up its elective surgery, with 17.8 per cent more patients treated in the three months to September 30 2008 compared to the same quarter last year.
The figures were part of the Queensland Health Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report September quarter 2008, released by Health Minister Stephen Robertson today.
The report shows that in the three months to September 30 2008, a total of 1,034 children were admitted from the waiting list for elective surgery, up from 1,027 in the June quarter and 878 in the September 2007 quarter.
Moreover, during the September quarter 2008, there has been a marked reduction in the number of ‘long wait’ children on the RCH waiting list - from 663 at 1 July 2008 to 481 at 1 October 2008, representing a 27 per cent reduction.
Of the category one elective surgery patients treated, half were treated within 13 days and 90 per cent within 48 days.
In category two, half were inside 34 days and 90 per cent within 215 days and in category three, half were within 116 days and 90 per cent within 538 days.
Mr Robertson said the district had implemented a range of strategies to increase its surgical throughput to address waiting lists.
“These strategies have resulted in a substantial reduction in long-wait patients in comparison with June 30,” he said.
The latest Queensland Health report card on hospitals also showed the RCH was treating more children than ever, with a total of 11,425 as inpatients or emergency cases in the September quarter of this year.
This was a rise of 3.7 per cent from 11,015 treated the June quarter and a 1.0 per cent rise on the October 2007 quarter.
Visits to the emergency department rose 8.8 per cent to 7,888 in the September quarter, from 7,249 in the June 2008 quarter, although there was an 8.2 per cent drop from 8,595 attendances in the October 2007 quarter.
Patient episodes of care rose slightly to 4,966 from 4,885 in the June quarter but more significantly by 9.1 per cent from the 4,550 in the same period last year.
Mr Robertson said the hard work of staff at the RCH was reflected throughout the State.
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.
“This report shows our hospitals are working harder than ever, and the strategies this Government has put in place are making strong improvements to ensure more Queenslanders receive the timely health care they need and deserve.
“I have nothing but praise for our dedicated staff and I thank them all for their hard work,” Mr Robertson said.
The Queensland Public Hospitals Quarterly Performance Report (September 08 quarter) will be 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:
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 is the term applied to any waiting time that exceeds the recommendation
for that category.
The figures were part of the Queensland Health Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report September quarter 2008, released by Health Minister Stephen Robertson today.
The report shows that in the three months to September 30 2008, a total of 1,034 children were admitted from the waiting list for elective surgery, up from 1,027 in the June quarter and 878 in the September 2007 quarter.
Moreover, during the September quarter 2008, there has been a marked reduction in the number of ‘long wait’ children on the RCH waiting list - from 663 at 1 July 2008 to 481 at 1 October 2008, representing a 27 per cent reduction.
Of the category one elective surgery patients treated, half were treated within 13 days and 90 per cent within 48 days.
In category two, half were inside 34 days and 90 per cent within 215 days and in category three, half were within 116 days and 90 per cent within 538 days.
Mr Robertson said the district had implemented a range of strategies to increase its surgical throughput to address waiting lists.
“These strategies have resulted in a substantial reduction in long-wait patients in comparison with June 30,” he said.
The latest Queensland Health report card on hospitals also showed the RCH was treating more children than ever, with a total of 11,425 as inpatients or emergency cases in the September quarter of this year.
This was a rise of 3.7 per cent from 11,015 treated the June quarter and a 1.0 per cent rise on the October 2007 quarter.
Visits to the emergency department rose 8.8 per cent to 7,888 in the September quarter, from 7,249 in the June 2008 quarter, although there was an 8.2 per cent drop from 8,595 attendances in the October 2007 quarter.
Patient episodes of care rose slightly to 4,966 from 4,885 in the June quarter but more significantly by 9.1 per cent from the 4,550 in the same period last year.
Mr Robertson said the hard work of staff at the RCH was reflected throughout the State.
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.
“This report shows our hospitals are working harder than ever, and the strategies this Government has put in place are making strong improvements to ensure more Queenslanders receive the timely health care they need and deserve.
“I have nothing but praise for our dedicated staff and I thank them all for their hard work,” Mr Robertson said.
The Queensland Public Hospitals Quarterly Performance Report (September 08 quarter) will be 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:
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 is the term applied to any waiting time that exceeds the recommendation
for that category.