Central Queensland Hospitals and Health Service data reveals almost half of category-two patients not seen within recommended time

Barely half of the region’s category-two patients needing surgery get treatment within the recommended time, as sick patients and health staff are adding to delays. See which specialists are most impacted.

Almost half of Central Queensland’s category-two elective surgery patients are not seen within the clinically recommended time as the health service says illness has impacted staff and patient availability.

New Central Queensland Hospital data for the June quarter has revealed that only 53.6 per cent of category-two patients are treated within the recommended time frame, with ear, nose, and throat and orthopaedics significantly impacted by delays.

Category two patients — described as those suffering a condition causing some pain, dysfunction or disability, but not likely to get worse quickly — should have surgery within 90 days of being added to the waiting list, according to Queensland Health.

There were 988 elective surgeries done in the June quarter within the CQHHS, up from 842 in the previous quarter. Picture: Supplied

Just 27.5 per cent of ENT patients were treated within the clinically recommended time frame, while orthopaedic (35.3 per cent), gynaecology (50 per cent), and urology (52.3 per cent) were all surgical specialties struggling to meet expectations.

For elective surgeries, category-one patients are waiting an average of 24 days, category-two wait 84 days, while category-three wait 338 days.

Elective surgery are those doctors believe are needed but can be delayed for at least 24 hours, patients are placed on waiting lists by their treating doctor and categorised from one to three in terms of urgency.

For elective surgeries, 90 per cent of category-two patients were seen within 163 days, with the median patient waiting 84 days.

It comes as a damning report on the state of Gladstone’s healthcare system has exposed deep fractures between community expectations and available services.

WAIT TIMES BY SPECIALTY

ENT: 169 days

General: 28 days

Gynaecology: 83 days

Ophthalmology: 82

Orthopaedics: 170 days

Urology: 34 days

Gladstone Hospital had 169 elective surgeries in the past quarter while Rockhampton Hospital performed 763. Picture: Nilsson Jones

There were 988 elective surgeries done in the June quarter within the CQHHS, up from 842 in the previous quarter.

Rockhampton Hospital performed 763 elective surgeries while Gladstone Hospital had 169.

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Across Central Queensland’s hospital network, more than 36,000 patients passed through CQ hospitals in the June quarter, with Rockhampton’s emergency department visited by 13,211 patients and Gladstone having 9,350.

About 73 per cent of Central Queensland patients were treated and discharged from emergency departments (EDs) within four hours, which is just short of the 80 per cent target set by the region’s health service.

CQ Health’s new Chief Executive Dr Emma McCahon. Picture: Aden Stokes

CQHHS chief executive Dr Emma McCahon thanked local health staff for their continued efforts to care for our community despite illness impacting the health sector.

“The health service is working hard to reschedule all postponed surgeries and agreements with our private partners are helping to ensure our patients get their treatment as quickly as possible,” Dr McCahon said.

“Illness has impacted availability of elective surgery for both patients and staff.

“The health service is constantly working to decrease ED waiting times and improve the flow of patients across hospitals, this includes initiatives such as the successful co-responder model in partnership with Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS).”

All category-one patients within the CQHHS were seen within clinically recommended times.

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Originally published as Central Queensland Hospitals and Health Service data reveals almost half of category-two patients not seen within recommended time