EMBARGO – Jillian Skinner med rel: Healthy outlook – NSW hospitals deliver enhanced patient care

Hospitals across NSW are continuing to strive for further improvements in patient care, figures in the latest Bureau of Health Information (BHI) Quarterly Report (July-September 2014) demonstrate.

Health Minister Jillian Skinner today congratulated staff at hospitals in the city and country for their commitment to driving enhancements in both emergency and elective surgery.

“Patients right across NSW are receiving quality, timely care as a result of the fantastic work being done in our hospitals,” Mrs Skinner said.

“In the July to September quarter this year, there were 468,000 patient admissions – a two per cent jump on the same time last year.

“During the quarter, NSW public hospitals performed 58,513 elective surgeries – up from 57,760 in the same time last year. There was also an increase in emergency department attendances, with 611,200 people presenting – up by 2,512 on last year.

“Enhancements have been made despite a late winter flu season and our hospitals have worked hard to ensure patients have access to first-class care.”

Elective surgery category
Under Labor
(July-Sept 2010)
Under Liberals & Nationals
(July-Sept 2014)
Urgent
92 per cent on time
100 per cent on time
Semi-urgent
90 per cent on time
97 per cent on time
Non-urgent
90 per cent on time
96 per cent on time

Emergency department triage
Under Labor
(July-Sept 2010)
Under Liberals & Nationals
(July-Sept 2014)
Non-urgent
Median time to start treatment
29 minutes
Median time to start treatment
24 minutes
Semi-urgent
Median time to start treatment
35 minutes
Median time to start treatment
28 minutes
Urgent
Median time to start treatment
24 minutes
Median time to start treatment
22 minutes
Emergency
Median time to start treatment
8 minutes
Median time to start treatment
8 minutes
* Table data sourced from Bureau of Health Information Healthcare Observer

Mrs Skinner said hospitals across NSW have made considerable progress to enhance care for patients, including:

· Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital – 63 per cent of patients treated within four hours – a 16 per cent improvement on the same time last year.
· Blue Mountains Hospital – 79 per cent of patients treated within four hours, a 15 per cent improvement on the same time last year.
· Lismore Hospital – 68 per cent of patients treated within four hours, a 12 per cent improvement on the same time last year.
· Grafton Hospital – 75 per cent of patients treated within four hours, an 11 per cent improvement on the same time last year.
· Manning Hospital – 84 per cent of patients treated within four hours, an 8 per cent improvement on the same time last year.
· Royal Prince Alfred Hospital – 64 per cent of patients treated within four hours, a 10 per cent improvement on the same time last year.
· Children’s Hospital at Westmead – 68 per cent of patients treated within four hours, a 12 per cent improvement on the same time last year.
· Auburn Hospital – 82 per cent of patients treated within four hours, a 7 per cent improvement on the same time last year.

And, in elective surgery:
· Royal North Shore Hospital – made a major improvement in its semi-urgent and non-urgent categories with 99 and 96 per cent of patients receiving their care in clinically recommended timeframes – up from 89 and 87 per cent on the same period last year.
· Mudgee Hospital – made a major improvement in its semi-urgent category with 100 per cent of patients receiving their care in clinically recommended timeframes – up from 89 per cent from the same time last year.

Mrs Skinner said the BHI also 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 July-September 2014 quarter compared to 91 per cent in the same quarter of 2010 when Labor was in government.
· Ear Nose & Throat surgery – 95 per cent of patients are receiving their care within clinically-recommended time frames in the July-September 2014 quarter compared to 85 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 July-September 2014 quarter compared to 90 per cent in the same quarter of 2010 when Labor was in government.
· Cataract extraction – 98 per cent of patients are receiving their care within clinically-recommended time frames in the July-September 2014 quarter compared to 91 per cent in the same quarter of 2010 when Labor was in government.

Mrs Skinner said the BHI, which surveyed more than 80 hospitals, found 69 per cent of patients in July-September quarter left the emergency department within four hours.

“Most recent NSW Ministry of Health data – which incorporates the majority of NSW public hospitals with emergency departments – shows for the month of October, 75 per cent of patients were leaving the emergency department within four hours,” Mrs Skinner said.

“The results from today’s report are a reflection of the determination and commitment of our doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and hospital staff and I pay tribute to their dedication to caring for patients across the state.”