Jillian Skinner med rel: Latest data reveals NSW treating more patients faster than ever

Health Minister Jillian Skinner today applauded staff across the public health system following the release of data showing NSW hospitals are continuing their improvements in emergency department services and elective surgery.

Mrs Skinner said the latest Bureau of Health Information (BHI) Quarterly Report (April-June 2014) demonstrates NSW public hospitals are delivering quality care to patients faster than ever before.

“In the April to June quarter this year, there were 451,594 admitted patients – a two per cent increase or nearly 9,000 more patients than the same time last year,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Of the 451,594 patients admitted to hospital from April to June, 183,934 (42 per cent) were planned admissions (eg. elective surgery) and 249,737 (58 per cent) were unplanned (including emergency admissions and unplanned surgical patients). The number of admitted patient episodes is the highest recorded for this quarter in the five years that BHI has been reporting.

“600,962 patients visited NSW public hospital emergency departments during the quarter, a three per cent jump on the same time in 2013.”

Elective surgery
category
Under Labor
(April-June 2010)
Under Liberals & Nationals
(April-June 2014)
Urgent
91 per cent on time
100 per cent on time
Semi-urgent
85 per cent on time
97 per cent on time
Non-urgent
86 per cent on time
95 per cent on time

Emergency department triage
Under Labor
(April-June 2010)
Under Liberals & Nationals
(April-June 2014)
Non-urgent
Median time to start treatment
29 minutes
Median time to start treatment
23 minutes
Semi-urgent
Median time to start treatment
31 minutes
Median time to start treatment
26 minutes
Urgent
Median time to start treatment
22 minutes
Median time to start treatment
20 minutes
Emergency
Median time to start treatment
7 minutes
Median time to start treatment
8 minutes

* Table data sourced from Bureau of Health Information Quarterly reports

Mrs Skinner said enhancements have been made to ensure more patients are receiving their elective surgeries within clinically-recommended timeframes.

· Nepean Hospital increased the percentage of elective surgery patients treated within time frame recommended by clinicians to 92 per cent – up from 85 per cent in the same quarter last year.
· Port Macquarie Hospital increased the percentage of elective surgery patients treated within time frame recommended by clinicians to 99 per cent – up from 92 per cent in the same quarter last year.
· Royal North Shore Hospital recorded a significant improvement in the percentage with 99 per cent of patients treated within clinically-recommended timeframes – a five per cent improvement on the same quarter last year.
· John Hunter Hospital recorded a significant improvement in the percentage with 95 per cent of patients treated within clinically-recommended timeframes – a four per cent improvement on the same quarter last year.

Mrs Skinner said the Bureau of Health Information now reports performance in clinically-recommended timeframes by surgical specialty via Healthcare Observer.

· Ophthalmology – 98 per cent of patients are receiving their care within clinically-recommended time frames in the April-June 2014 quarter compared to 89 per cent in the same quarter of 2010 when Labor was in government.
· Ear Nose & Throat surgery – 94 per cent of patients are receiving their care within clinically-recommended time frames in the April-June 2014 quarter compared to 75 per cent in the same quarter of 2010 when Labor was in government.
· Orthopaedic surgery – 95 per cent of patients are receiving their care within clinically-recommended time frames in the April-June 2014 quarter compared to 82 per cent in the same quarter of 2010 when Labor was in government.

Mrs Skinner said remarkable improvements have also been made in emergency departments across NSW with more patients completing their treatment within the four-hour benchmark in the April to June quarter.

· Fairfield Hospital – 83 per cent of patients treated within four hours – a 12 per cent improvement on the same time last year.
· Sutherland Hospital – 73 per cent of patients treated within four hours – a 19 per cent improvement on the same time last year.
· Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital – 69 per cent of patients treated within four hours – a 20 per cent increase on the same quarter in 2013.
· Prince of Wales Hospital – 73 per cent of patients seen treated four hours – a 12 per cent increase on the same quarter in 2013.
· Canterbury Hospital – 78 per cent of patients treated within four hours – a 13 per cent boost on the same quarter last year.
· Lismore Hospital – 70 per cent of patients treated within four hours – a 15 per cent jump on the same quarter last year.
· Shellharbour Hospital – 70 per cent of patients treated within four hours – a 13 per cent improvement on the same time last year.
· Dubbo Hospital – 71 per cent of patients seen treated four hours – a 14 per cent increase on the same period in 2013.

“Demand for hospital services continues to grow and it is the innovation and inspired work being done on the frontline which is ensuring patients are receiving quality, timely health care,” Mrs Skinner said.

“These results are testament to the hard work of doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and hospital staff and I thank them for their dedication to caring for patients across the state.”