A report released today shows Queensland’s hardworking surgical theatre teams are performing more surgeries within clinically recommended times.
Minister for Health and Ambulances Services Steven Miles said the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) report on Elective Surgery Waiting Times was released today.
“More people are being treated and more people are being treated within clinically recommended times,” Mr Miles said.
“In 2018-19 Queensland’s public hospitals treated over 142,000 patients from the elective surgery waiting list.
“This is almost 1,400 more surgeries, compared to the same period last year.
“Almost 95% of elective surgery patients were seen within clinically recommended times.
“Our Hospitals ranked second in the nation for having the lowest number of patients who waited more than 365 days.”
Mr Miles said it was disappointing to hear the LNP misusing data today.
“The LNP have a responsibility to the public to use data truthfully – not to mislead Queenslanders, scare patients and insult our hardworking healthcare staff,” Mr Miles said.
“This is another example of the LNP talking down our hardworking doctors, nurses and health practitioners.
“Our hospitals have seen an increase in people requiring surgery, not an increase in people waiting longer than clinically recommended.
“The LNP have a horrible record when it comes to healthcare. Queenslanders haven’t forgotten the ‘wait list for the wait list’ gimmick.
“When the Palaszczuk Government came to office, there were more than 104,000 Queenslanders waiting longer than clinically recommended for a specialist outpatient appointment.
“That’s 104,000 Queenslanders waiting on the ‘wait list for the wait list’.
“The LNP priorities were sacking 4,400 Health staff – including 1,800 nurses and midwives.”
The Palaszczuk Government has invested over $593 million in our Specialist Outpatient Strategy across the state, including an additional $77.4 million in this year’s Budget to fund more specialist outpatient appointments, and the flow-on impacts for elective surgery.
Queensland public hospitals also exceeded national averages for Emergency Department performance, despite demand for emergency care increasing by 3.3 per cent on the previous financial year.
“Every month we continue to see the figures rise, but Queenslanders should be assured that our staff work around the clock to provide care should they, their family or friends need it,” Minister Miles said.
“Our emergency teams ensured our patients saw an average length of stay of four hours or less was 70.2 per cent, better than the national average of 69.6 per cent, while also making sure 100 per cent of the most urgent patients were seen on time across the state.
“Our priority is and always will be saving lives – we want every Queenslander to know that they are more than a statistic to us and we will continue to provide world class care to anyone who comes through our hospital doors.”
