Queensland Health says the State’s public hospitals are meeting the increased demand for elective surgery despite the problems associated with the global pandemic.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Yvette D’Ath said Queensland Health’s latest June Quarter 2021 Performance Data report also revealed record activity in the State’s emergency departments.
“Queensland’s public hospitals carried out 37,187 elective surgery procedures in the June quarter, up from 36,781 the previous quarter,” Ms D’Ath said.
“This represents an increase of 37.8 per cent compared to the same period last year, which is an outstanding performance during a once-in-a-century pandemic.”
She said the number of patients waiting longer than clinically recommended for elective surgery was also falling.
“As of 1 July, there were 629 long-wait elective surgery patients, down from 1,574 the previous quarter and 5,166 in May 2020,” Ms D’Ath said.
“There are also more Queenslanders receiving an initial outpatient appointment — in the June 2021 quarter 175,839 people received their initial outpatient appointment, up from 171,677 the previous quarter.”
Ms D’Ath said public hospitals were still treating 100 per cent of the most serious Category One emergency department presentations within two minutes.
“Between April 2021 and June 2021, there were over 601,305 emergency department presentations; that is over 28 per cent more patients seeking care from an emergency department this quarter compared to the same period last year,” she said.
“This outstanding performance comes despite significant increases in presentations across all categories,” Ms D’Ath said.
The full June Quarter 2021 Performance Data can be accessed at this PS News link.
