PA Hospital elective surgeries drop amid new Covid wave, accreditation concerns
There are concerns that a big drop in elective surgery at one of the state’s major hospitals could spark downturns at other facilities.
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The number of elective surgeries at one of the state’s biggest hospitals has dropped by almost a quarter in a year amid an ongoing fight to keep its anaesthetic training accreditation.
The latest Queensland government performance data for the September quarter showed elective surgeries at Princess Alexandra Hospital were bouncing back after Covid, but had slipped in the past year.
The latest data shows elective surgery numbers at PA Hospital in Woolloongabba dropped from 3647 in September 2021 to 2758 in September 2022.
Pre-pandemic elective surgery levels ranged from 3300 to almost 4000 per quarter.
Limits were put on elective surgeries during the pandemic to free up beds for Covid patients and there were periods where elective surgeries were cancelled.
Statewide figures show elective surgery numbers are recovering from the pandemic-related low of 95,180, and exceeded 125,000 in 2021/22.
Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates said elective surgery cuts at the PA would have a domino effect across the state.
“To know that the number of surgeries at the PA has been slashed will be devastating to those who’ve already waited longer than they should,” she said.
“Queensland patients are the ones who lose when our hospital staff are under-resourced and overburdened.”
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said PA Hospital performed the highest number of category one elective surgeries of any state hospital in the latest September quarter.
“We know that Covid has impacted elective surgery output in Queensland, and the rest of the country, but the LNP continues to deny these impacts,” she said.
“I want to acknowledge the efforts of our hardworking clinicians who have contributed to the increased elective surgery output we’ve seen statewide during the last two quarters.”
As reported last month, the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetics said the PA needed to slim down its elective surgery schedule over concerns about supervision levels, excessive roster changes, inadequate staffing levels.
PA Hospital medical services executive director Dr Brian Bell said Anaesthetics Department is recruiting above and beyond normal levels to address ANZCA concerns.
Ms D’Ath also provided an update: “ANZCA advised that they were pleased to see progress made in a number of areas and would be visiting the PA in the new year.”
Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Maria Boulton said she was concerned to see elective surgery numbers go backward.
“Our hospitals and health system were already under strain before Covid. The pandemic has only highlighted the stresses,” she said.
“We need both the state and federal governments to step up and fund our hospitals and our GPs properly to keep providing the quality healthcare that all Queenslanders deserve.”
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