News
Queensland Hospitals Break Surgical Records |
| Spokesperson: | Minister for Health – Hon Stephen Robertson |
| Date: | Tuesday, 18 April 2006 |
| Category: | State Health News |
| Queensland's two largest hospitals set records for the amount of surgery they performed last month, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today. Mr Robertson said the Princess Alexandra Hospital performed more surgery last month than at any other time in its long history. The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital set a March record for the number of surgical cases handled this year. "The PA Hospital operated on more than 1,700 patients in March including 441 emergency cases and 1,271 elective cases. "At no point in the history of the PA Hospital has so much surgery ever been performed in one month. The previous record was 1,540 cases in February this year. Mr Robertson said the total of 1,712 patients was particularly significant when compared to previous statistics. "During the past six months the average number of surgical cases performed at the PA was approximately 1,450 per month," he said. "A total of 12,934 patients have been operated on for the financial year to the end of March - an increase of 988 on the same period last year. Mr Robertson said there was a real mix of surgical cases at the PA in March. "The hospital performed routine as well as complex operations with the majority of cases involving category 1 and category 2 elective surgery patients. "Most category 1 patients require significant resources such as advanced equipment and machinery to allow their complex operations to occur." Mr Robertson said over at the Royal, surgery staff operated on 2,012 patients last month - the highest number recorded for the month of March. "Previous surgery cases for March have totalled 1,956 (2005), 1,664 (2004) and 1,480 (2003)," he said. "Surgical cases handled at the RBWH in the nine months to March total 15,970 compared to 15,814 for the same period last year and 12,526 for the previous year." Mr Robertson said the results were a fantastic achievement for both hospitals during a very challenging time in our health system. "They are performing more and more surgery every month," he said. "I congratulate all hospital staff and management on the wonderful result and their steadfast commitment to timely and quality treatment and care for sick and injured Queenslanders. "However, we continue to face high demands for elective surgery and it may take some time before waiting lists return to a more acceptable level." Mr Robertson said additional State Government funding for both hospitals had delivered more hospital beds and more doctors and nurses. "This has allowed the PA to carry out additional operating theatre sessions," he said. "But also the exceptional level of dedication and commitment from our hard working Queensland Health staff has played a major part in the ability to handle so many cases." Mr Robertson said he expected surgical activity to increase further through the Beattie Government's landmark $6.4 billion Health Action Plan. "Over the next five years we will pour an additional $259.7 million into elective surgery and an extra $280.3 million into our emergency departments. These two massive funding injections will help build the best public health system in Australia," he said. Mr Robertson said the high levels of activity at Queensland's largest hospitals presented further evidence that the Howard Government needed to lift its game in supplying doctors and nurses for Queenslanders. |
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