Friday, 13 December 2019
INVERELL Hospital has continued to deliver better than average treatment times despite the worst flu season in a decade causing a spike in the number of hospital presentations, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall announced today.
The Bureau of Health Information’s Healthcare Quarterly Report, July to September 2019 showed the longest flu season in NSW since 2009 had a significant impact on the number of emergency department presentations across the region.
Mr Marshall said Inverell Hospital experienced an increase in patient presentations, however emergency and elective surgery waiting times were still tracking better than other similar hospitals.
“The July quarter was a busy time for medical staff at Inverell Hospital with 2,436 patients presenting to the emergency department (ED), up by 4.5 percent on the same period last year,” Mr Marshall said.
“This was also reflected in the number of patients delivered by ambulance with 556 arrivals to the ED compared to 515.
“It’s pleasing to see 78.8 percent of patients started their treatment on time, with 84.9 percent of them leaving within four hours of presenting at hospital.
“Overall, the hospital’s ED waiting times reflect the increase in presentations but medical staff have continued to deliver treatment which is in line with or faster than average.”
Mr Marshall said Inverell had also improved its elective surgery performance.
“Doctors have shaved 11 days off the waiting time for semi-urgent surgeries, with the figure now down to 38 days,” he said.
“All procedures were delivered on time which is great news for the residents of Inverell.
“Seeing figures like these being delivered by the old Inverell Hospital makes me excited to think what sort of outcomes we will see once the new $60 million facility comes online.”