Southern NSW Local Health District is among the state’s top performers for emergency department and planned surgery performance, despite treating a high number of critically unwell patients during the October to December 2024 quarter.
SNSWLHD Chief Executive Margaret Bennett praised the efforts of staff in providing high quality care to patients during the early summer period.
“This latest Bureau of Health Information Healthcare Quarterly report for October to December 2024 shows our District was among the state’s top performers for key ED indicators including the percentage of patients starting their treatment on time, leaving the ED within four hours, time to transfer care from ambulance to hospital staff, and planned surgery wait times,” Ms Bennett said.
“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to our dedicated staff members, as these impressive results are a testament to their hard work.”
The District performed 1,287 planned surgeries during the last quarter of 2024, an increase of 4.3 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2023.
SNSWLHD had one of the best results in the state for the percentage of planned surgeries performed on time, with almost all patients, or 99.8 per cent, receiving their planned surgery on time. This includes 99.5 per cent of urgent planned surgeries, 99.8 per cent of semi-urgent planned surgeries, and 100 per cent of non-urgent surgeries performed on time.
During October to December 2024, there were more than 30,000 presentations to EDs across SNSWLHD. Of these there were 3,980 by patients with an imminently life-threatening condition (emergency or triage category 2), an increase of 5.6 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2023.
There were also 10,778 patients presenting with potentially life-threatening conditions (urgent or triage category 3), an 8.4 per cent increase when compared with the same quarter in 2023.
All patients are seen and triaged on arrival at the ED and, as always, the most seriously unwell patients are treated first. During busy times, people with less urgent conditions will experience longer wait times when there are large numbers of seriously unwell patients being prioritised for emergency care.
Despite the high demand, more than seven in 10 patients (76.5 per cent) started their treatment on time, which is better than the NSW average (65.3 per cent). The majority of patients (72 per cent) also left the ED within four hours of arriving, also better than the NSW average (56.6 per cent).
Almost all patients (95.1 per cent) were transferred from ambulance to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark time, which is well above the NSW average (83.4 per cent).
“Our staff have implemented a range of improvement strategies over the past 12-18 months to achieve these impressive results,” Ms Bennett said.
“Strategies include daily huddles across all facilities, ongoing ED education programs to strengthen nursing triage protocols, regular reviews of clerical processes and systems, as well as management of discharges and delays.
“The most important outcome of this work is that patients in Southern NSW are given the very best care, as quickly as possible."
SNSWLHD continues to remind everyone to support us by saving emergency departments and ambulances for saving lives. If an illness or injury is not serious or life-threatening, we encourage people to call Healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222, for 24-hour telephone health advice.
INDIVIDUAL HOSPITAL RESULTS
At Batemans Bay District Hospital there were 3,018 ED attendances between October to December 2024. The majority of patients (81.3 per cent) started treatment on time, which is better than the average for hospitals of a similar size in NSW (76.5 per cent). Almost all patients (97.4 per cent) were transferred from paramedics to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark. Batemans Bay District Hospital performed 92 planned surgery procedures during the quarter. All planned surgeries (100 per cent) were performed on time.
At Moruya District Hospital there were 3,485 ED attendances during the October to December 2024 quarter. More than seven in 10 patients (73 per cent) started their treatment on time, which is in line with the average for hospitals of a similar size in NSW (76.5 per cent). Almost all patients (96.5 per cent) were transferred from paramedics to the ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark. Moruya District Hospital performed 163 planned surgeries during the quarter, and almost all (98.7 per cent) were performed on time.
At Goulburn Base Hospital there were 5,824 ED attendances during the quarter. More than nine in 10 patients (90.3 per cent) were transferred from ambulance to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark time, which is almost in line with the average for hospitals of a similar size in NSW (90.9 per cent). During the October to December 2024 quarter, 358 planned surgeries were performed and all (100 per cent) were performed on time.
At Cooma Hospital there were 2,737 ED attendances during the quarter. More than nine in 10 patients (93.5 per cent) started treatment on time, which is well above the average for hospitals of a similar size in NSW (76.5 per cent). Almost all patients (99.7 per cent) were transferred from ambulance to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark, which is also better than the average for hospitals of a similar size in NSW (95.4 per cent). The majority of patients (82.2 per cent) left the ED within four hours, which is in line with the average for comparable hospitals in NSW (77.7 per cent). There were 47 planned surgery procedures performed during the October to December 2024 quarter and all (100 per cent) were performed on time.
At Queanbeyan Hospital there were 6,832 ED attendances during the October to December 2024 quarter. More than eight in 10 patients (80.6 per cent) started treatment on time, which is better than the average for hospitals of a similar size in NSW (76.5 per cent). More than eight in 10 patients (81.6 per cent) left the ED within four hours of arriving – also better than the average for comparable hospitals in NSW (77.7 per cent). Almost all patients (98.3 per cent) were transferred from ambulance to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark, also better than the average for hospitals of a similar size in NSW (95.4 per cent). There were 212 planned surgery procedures performed during the October to December 2024 quarter and all (100 per cent) were performed on time.
At South East Regional Hospital (SERH) there were 6,259 ED attendances during the October to December 2024 quarter. More than seven in 10 patients (70.1 per cent) started their treatment on time which is in line with the average for hospitals of a similar size in NSW (68.3 per cent). Almost all patients (94.2 per cent) were transferred from ambulance to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark, which is in line with the average for hospitals of a similar size in NSW (90.9 per cent). There were 415 planned surgeries performed during the quarter, with all procedures (100 per cent) performed on time.
MEDIA: SNSWLHD-media@health.nsw.gov.au 0467 819 506