Published Thursday, 06 November, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
More patients, more surgery, more care for Gold Coast
The Gold Coast Health Service District is 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 showed the number of patients treated on the Gold Coast rose over 30 per cent on the same period last year.
“This latest report shows 37884 people were seen as inpatients or emergencies, compared with the 29112 people treated during the same quarter last year,” he said.
“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 latest report also shows 3000 patients received elective surgery, a 5 per cent increase on the June 2008 quarter, and an increase of 6.9 per cent on the September 2007 quarter.”
Mr Robertson said the Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report showed the Bligh Government’s $10 billion Health Action Plan was delivering significantly improved health services for Queenslanders.
He said record capital infrastructure spending and innovative new strategies were transforming health services on the Gold Coast.
“We’re investing over $1.5 billion dollars to enhance services and increase bed numbers on the Gold Coast,” Mr Robertson said.
“This cash injection is going towards new facilities such as the Carrara Health Centre, which provides non-acute care for up to 63 patients, freeing up acute beds in our hospitals for the sickest patients.
“It’s funding Home Health Link, a hospital avoidance strategy which now takes up to 50 referrals a week.
“This service allows people who can be better cared for outside hospital to return to their homes earlier or to remain there in the first place.
“We’re also building the new $1.5 billion, 750 bed Gold Coast University Hospital, due to open in 2012, with a major $287 million dollar major expansion of Robina Hospital also underway.”
Mr Robertson said the dedicated Gold Coast Surgery Centre at Southport would see a further increase in the amount of elective surgery performed on the Gold Coast.
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.
Ends.
MEDIA: Kate Van Poelgeest 3234 1185 or Martin Philip 3235 2680
* The eight points are:
• Implementing robust internal processes to improve bed availability.
• Ensuring timely and appropriate discharge protocols are in place with executive directors of Medical Services and Nursing directly involved in managing this.
• Enabling key staff to have input into developing strategies to reduce pressure on emergency departments.
• Introducing into performance contracts for District CEOs personal accountabilities for managing organisational issues impacting access block.
• Focussing on whole of hospital performance indicators for access block.
• Developing and implementing predictive software to enhance bed management.
• Working with the Divisions of General Practice to enhance access to GP and other community-based services.
• Creating a senior position within Queensland Health to bring an organisation-wide focus to improving emergency department services and links with intensive care issues.
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 the report for the September 2008 quarter showed the number of patients treated on the Gold Coast rose over 30 per cent on the same period last year.
“This latest report shows 37884 people were seen as inpatients or emergencies, compared with the 29112 people treated during the same quarter last year,” he said.
“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 latest report also shows 3000 patients received elective surgery, a 5 per cent increase on the June 2008 quarter, and an increase of 6.9 per cent on the September 2007 quarter.”
Mr Robertson said the Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report showed the Bligh Government’s $10 billion Health Action Plan was delivering significantly improved health services for Queenslanders.
He said record capital infrastructure spending and innovative new strategies were transforming health services on the Gold Coast.
“We’re investing over $1.5 billion dollars to enhance services and increase bed numbers on the Gold Coast,” Mr Robertson said.
“This cash injection is going towards new facilities such as the Carrara Health Centre, which provides non-acute care for up to 63 patients, freeing up acute beds in our hospitals for the sickest patients.
“It’s funding Home Health Link, a hospital avoidance strategy which now takes up to 50 referrals a week.
“This service allows people who can be better cared for outside hospital to return to their homes earlier or to remain there in the first place.
“We’re also building the new $1.5 billion, 750 bed Gold Coast University Hospital, due to open in 2012, with a major $287 million dollar major expansion of Robina Hospital also underway.”
Mr Robertson said the dedicated Gold Coast Surgery Centre at Southport would see a further increase in the amount of elective surgery performed on the Gold Coast.
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.
Ends.
MEDIA: Kate Van Poelgeest 3234 1185 or Martin Philip 3235 2680
* The eight points are:
• Implementing robust internal processes to improve bed availability.
• Ensuring timely and appropriate discharge protocols are in place with executive directors of Medical Services and Nursing directly involved in managing this.
• Enabling key staff to have input into developing strategies to reduce pressure on emergency departments.
• Introducing into performance contracts for District CEOs personal accountabilities for managing organisational issues impacting access block.
• Focussing on whole of hospital performance indicators for access block.
• Developing and implementing predictive software to enhance bed management.
• Working with the Divisions of General Practice to enhance access to GP and other community-based services.
• Creating a senior position within Queensland Health to bring an organisation-wide focus to improving emergency department services and links with intensive care issues.
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’.