Signs of improvement in local hospitals

Gosford hospital is showing signs of improvement, in spite of the broader NSW health system continuing to face major pressures, according to the latest release of Bureau of Health Information (BHI) data.

13 September 2023

 

ACROSS the state, the number of surgical patients waiting longer than clinically recommended have decreased from 14,067 to 9,142 between the March quarter to June quarter.

 

At Gosford Hospital this figure has dropped from 368 patients to 13, a 96% reduction.

 

Just days after being sworn in, Health Minister Ryan Park established the NSW Surgical Care Taskforce dedicated to improving the delivery of surgical services and reducing the state’s elective surgery wait list.

 

The taskforce has brought together some of the state’s leading clinical experts, working in both the public and private health sectors.

 

It continues to examine a range of best-practice models, including by safely increasing day-only surgery, boosting virtual care and remote monitoring of patients, enhancing systems of referrals and assessment of patients by multidisciplinary teams, and by maximising the efficiency of operating theatres for planned surgery.

 

However, the NSW Liberal’s and National’s lack of investment in frontline health workers, including only temporarily funding 1,112 nurses and midwives continues to loom large over the state’s hospitals.

 

The latest BHI data shows continuing high levels of demand for emergency care, including record NSW Ambulance activity.

 

Throughout the second quarter of 2023, there were 117,949 triage category 2 (emergency) presentations to NSW public hospitals, the highest number on record.

 

Despite the increase in more complex presentations, the majority of patients, 65.8 per cent, started their treatment on time, an improvement on the same quarter last year.

 

Throughout the quarter, more than seven in 10 patients, 74.1 per cent, were transferred from ambulance to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark time, also an improvement on the same quarter of last year.

 

The Government is undertaking a comprehensive suite of structural reforms to rebuild the state’s health system, including:

 

• Building an engaged, capable and supported workforce, beginning with implementing safe staffing levels, with a memorandum of understanding signed with nurses just last week;

 

• Improving health workforce conditions, including with the abolition of the wages cap and the roll out of study subsidies;

 

• Enhancing the accessibility and delivery of healthcare across rural and regional NSW, including with a boost to regional paramedics; doubling rural health incentives and expanding the single employer model;

 

• Safely delivering the essential health services our community deserves, including through a special commission of inquiry into health spending;

 

• Reducing surgery wait times with the establishment of a surgical care taskforce; and

 

• Providing the health infrastructure and technology for communities across NSW, including by embracing urgent care and virtual care, relieving pressure on our hospitals.

 

Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch said, “After 12 years of neglect under the former Liberal National Government our hospital systems have been decimated, with our nurses, doctors, paramedics and patients left to suffer the consequences of this legacy.

 

“There is a long way to go, however I am happy to see signs of improvement at Gosford Hospital, with a 96% reduction in surgical patients waiting longer than clinically recommended.

 

“The Minns Labor Government is pursuing an ambitious and comprehensive suit of reforms to our health system to address the widespread pressures on our healthcare system.

 

“The NSW Government has a clear focus, restoring the fiscal mess left behind by the previous government to restore and improve the essential services that we all rely on. Minister for Health, Ryan Park is commited to reforming our system so that everyone can be provided quality healthcare, while removing the extreme burder on our nurses, doctors and healthcare staff.

 

“Thank you to NSW Health and our healthcare staff across the Coast and NSW who look after our community daily. Our health staff continue to provide wonderful care for local patients despite the fact they have been under unprecedented pressure over the past few years.”

 

The Government remains committed to improving the essential health services our community deserve and building an engaged, capable and supported workforce.

 

At the same time, NSW is confronted with deteriorating fiscal conditions, left by the previous government.

 

In addition to record debt, the previous government made more than $7 billion worth of promises they could not pay for, including not permanently funding 1,112 nurses and midwives working in NSW Hospitals.

 

The current government is now making the careful and necessary decisions to address the holes left in the budget by the Liberals to ensure they can fund quality healthcare that people rely on.