Record elective surgery performance for Mt Isa Hospital

Mount Isa Hospital has almost doubled its intake of elective surgery patients in the last three months, according to the latest Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report.

The report for the September quarter 2008 shows Mt Isa Hospital treated 175 patients from the elective surgery waiting list - an increase of 40 per cent on the previous quarter.

Mr Robertson said the record numbers were testament to the hard work of clinical staff across the State and evidence of the positive impact the Bligh Government’s Health Action Plan was making to improving access to essential health services.

“Our $10 billion Health Action plan is transforming health services in Queensland, and there’s no better proof of this than the amount of elective surgery being performed at Mt Isa Hospital,” Mr Robertson said.

“This increase is part of a trend across the State, which has seen a record number of elective surgery procedures performed in Queensland public hospitals in the last three months.

Mr Robertson said Mt Isa Hospital also treated 9,467 people as inpatients or emergency admissions, an increase of 6.8 per cent on the June 2008 quarter.

“Emergency department admissions in Queensland continue to outstrip population growth, and we’re seeing that here in Mt Isa,” he said.

“In the last three months 8,861 people presented to the hospital’s emergency department, compared to 8,380 in the June quarter.

“The increased demand for inpatient services has also seen 1,586 episodes of care provided in the September quarter, a 10.8 per cent increase from 1,432 in the June 2008 quarter and a 5.2 per cent increase from the 1,508 episodes of care in the September 2007 quarter.

Mr Robertson said only one category one patient waited longer than the recommended 30 days for surgery during the September quarter, while nine category two patients had to wait longer than the recommended 90 days.

This compared to 20 patients who waited longer than recommended for surgery in these categories during the June quarter.

“This report shows that we’re making inroads into elective surgery waiting lists in Mt Isa, thanks in part to our ground-breaking ‘Surgery Connect’ program,” he said.

“We’re also meeting the ever-increasing demand being seen right across Queensland in our busy emergency departments.

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, but the strategies this Government has put in place are making strong improvements to ensuring more Queenslanders receive the timely health care they need and deserve,” Mr Robertson said.

“I have nothing but praise for our dedicated staff and I thank them all for their hard work.

“But we’re not resting on our laurels and will continue to do the yards to deliver sustainable health services for Mt Isa residents, now and in the future.”

The Queensland Public Hospitals Quarterly 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

Definitions:

Outpatient services provided = the number of outpatient and other non-admitted services minus services such as emergency, pharmacy, pathology, diagnostic imaging, community health services, district nursing services and other outreach services.

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.

People admitted to hospital = the number of admitted patient episodes of care. For example, one person might be admitted to hospital on two separate occasions, they would then be counted as two episodes of care.

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 received elective surgery = the number of people admitted for elective surgery from the elective surgery waiting list in either Category 1, 2 or 3.

People waiting for elective surgery= the number of patients waiting for elective surgery from Category 1, 2 or 3 with a status of ‘waiting’ or ‘booked’.