Published Thursday, 06 November, 2008 at 04:45 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Atherton Hospital treating record number of patients
Atherton Hospital is treating more patients than ever, according to the latest Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said Atherton Hospital treated 4,580 people as inpatients or emergencies in the three months to 30 September.
“This represents an increase of 17.3 per cent on the 3,903 people treated in the June quarter 2008,” he said.
“During the September quarter, Atherton Hospital also treated 1417 inpatients, an increase of 5.6 per cent on the September quarter 2007.
Mr Robertson said the hospital treated 5,276 outpatients in the September 2008 quarter, with the report also revealing a sharp increase in emergency department activity.
“Atherton Hospital treated 3,767 patients in its emergency department in the September quarter - an increase of 22.5 per cent on the June quarter 2008 and a 16.9 per cent increase on the September 2007.
“During the September quarter, Atherton Hospital admitted 111 patients from the elective surgery waiting list, a decrease of 5.1 per cent on the previous quarter.
“This was due to a temporary reduction in outreach surgical services to Atherton Hospital, resulting from a temporary shortage of specialists to carry out the outreach service from Cairns Base Hospital.
Of the category 1 patients treated during the September quarter, half were treated within six days and 90 per cent were treated within 29 days.
Of the Category 2 patients, half were treated within 21 days and 90 per cent within 50 days.
Of the Category 3 patients, half were treated within 40 days and 90 per cent within 82 days.
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
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’.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said Atherton Hospital treated 4,580 people as inpatients or emergencies in the three months to 30 September.
“This represents an increase of 17.3 per cent on the 3,903 people treated in the June quarter 2008,” he said.
“During the September quarter, Atherton Hospital also treated 1417 inpatients, an increase of 5.6 per cent on the September quarter 2007.
Mr Robertson said the hospital treated 5,276 outpatients in the September 2008 quarter, with the report also revealing a sharp increase in emergency department activity.
“Atherton Hospital treated 3,767 patients in its emergency department in the September quarter - an increase of 22.5 per cent on the June quarter 2008 and a 16.9 per cent increase on the September 2007.
“During the September quarter, Atherton Hospital admitted 111 patients from the elective surgery waiting list, a decrease of 5.1 per cent on the previous quarter.
“This was due to a temporary reduction in outreach surgical services to Atherton Hospital, resulting from a temporary shortage of specialists to carry out the outreach service from Cairns Base Hospital.
Of the category 1 patients treated during the September quarter, half were treated within six days and 90 per cent were treated within 29 days.
Of the Category 2 patients, half were treated within 21 days and 90 per cent within 50 days.
Of the Category 3 patients, half were treated within 40 days and 90 per cent within 82 days.
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
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’.