- Mackay Hospital and Health Service emergency departments have treated a record number of critically ill and injured patients in the most recent quarter
- 100% of category 1 patients were seen within 2 minutes of arriving to hospital
- The number of Category 1 patients in our seven emergency departments increased by 46%, compared to the same quarter last year.
Mackay HHS emergency departments recorded 26,457 attendances in the June quarter, a 3% increase compared to the same quarter last year.
Impressively 91% of patients were seen within the clinically recommended time, with a median waiting time for treatment just 10 minutes.
In the June quarter Mackay HHS emergency department treated 139 Category 1 patients. Each was seen within 2 minutes of arriving to hospital, which is the clinically recommended time.
Demand also increased significantly for the next most urgent Category 2 patients with 4549 presentations, a 17% increase compared to the same quarter last year.
767 patients underwent elective surgeries, which is a 23% increase on the same time last year.
In the June quarter 4708 patients seen for an initial appointment in a specialist outpatient clinic.
Mackay Base Hospital also improved its Patient Off Stretcher time in the quarter, rising to 71% from 68% despite an increase in ambulance arrivals.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman:
“While we have seen some improvements, we know there is much more work to do.
“Our emergency departments managed a record number of presentations, more than 10,500 than the same quarter last year, and our patient off stretcher times remained steady, at 55 per cent.
“Despite the rapid population growth we’re experiencing, and despite being the busiest in the country, our ambulance service is doing incredible work to look after their communities.
“These improvements would not be possible without the hard work, dedication, and commitment to patient care from our health care workers, who I thank for their tireless efforts.
“I can assure Queenslanders that our $764 million Putting Patients First plan to keep Queenslanders out of hospital is bolstering our frontline health workforce and strengthening the Queensland Ambulance Service.
“It is delivering more beds and delivering the major hospital upgrades and expansions we need to provide the best health-care possible.
“The Palaszczuk Government is making the necessary investments to provide quality healthcare closer to home, for all Queenslanders.”
Please attribute to Mackay Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Susan Gannon:
“The June quarter has been another busy time for our hard-working staff across the health service.
“I would like to thank our dedicated emergency department staff for their tireless service to our community. We are very proud of them and what they have achieved.
“Our emergency staff continue to report that a visit to ED is often the first time people have seen a doctor in some time.
“Unfortunately, this means they are presenting with more complex conditions and mental health issues.
“Staff in our operating theatres have also been hard at work to perform additional elective surgery in the June quarter when 767 patients were treated, a 22.9% increase from the previous quarter.
“Category 1 – the most time-critical elective surgery – was the largest category with 362 people treated during the quarter.
“At the end of June there were no Category 1 patients waiting longer than the clinically recommended time.
“Mackay HHS also has a plan to improve access to elective surgery.
“In 2023-24 the HHS has received $5 million of non-recurrent funding to reduce long waits for Elective Surgery, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Specialist Outpatients.”
