15 November, 2023
Queenslanders left confused by use of Health Department statistics
The Queensland Government has recently released positive statistical information on Health Department outcomes on the Darling Downs, while this week the Opposition’s M.P. and Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Ros Bates has released statistical data showing negative Health Services outcomes for the twelve months to the end of June across the state.
Reading these two totally different interpretations of statistics adds weight to the old argument “there are lies, damned lies and statistics” as the poor reader is left to decide what is the true position of our hospital system.
The Clifton Courier presents these statistics as they have been released by the Government and the Opposition.
Government
Darling Downs Health hospitals had 48,461 patients present to emergency departments in the September 2023 quarter, which is an increase of 8.9 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2022.
At Toowoomba Hospital,
there were 16,890 presentations from July to September this year.
Patients are given a triage category according to their level of clinical need, with Category 1 the sickest or most seriously injured.
One hundred per cent of Category 1 patients were seen within the clinically recommended time and the average wait time across all five categories was 22 minutes.
The Patient Off Stretcher Time (POST) at Toowoomba Hospital has improved with 72 per cent of patients transferred off a QAS stretcher within 30 minutes.
Darling Downs Health hospitals treated 1,712 elective surgery patients in the September quarter, representing a 21.6 per cent increase in surgeries when compared to the same period last year; 1,462 of these procedures were at Toowoomba Hospital.
Overall, 76 per cent of elective surgery patients were treated within the clinically recommended time.
During the September 2023 quarter, 9,373 patients were seen for an initial appointment at a specialist outpatient clinic in the Darling Downs area.
“Our public health system performed exceptionally well in the last quarter, thanks to our incredible hospital and ambulance staff,” Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman said.
“A record number of Queenslanders received the surgery they need – with more surgeries than any other time in Queensland’s history.
“I’m thrilled to see some improvements in the Darling Downs region, and we know there’s still more we can do.
“I can assure Queenslanders that our
$764 million Putting Patients First plan to keep Queenslanders out of hospital is bolstering our frontline health workforce and strengthening the Queensland Ambulance Service.
“It is delivering more beds and delivering the major hospital upgrades and expansions we need to provide the best health-care possible.
“Through diligent planning, we have been able to meet the increasing demand being placed upon our Health Service.”
Darling Downs Health Chief Executive, Annette Scott PSM said the recently opened Emergency Department expansion at Toowoomba Hospital continues to improve the experience for people needing urgent care.
“As we look toward 2024, we will introduce a new
two-theatre day surgery into our capability, which will allow us to expand the services we currently provide to the community,” Ms Scott said.
“We also look forward to the commencement of the $1.3 billion new Toowoomba Hospital at the Baillie Henderson campus.
“We are continually impressed by the capability, compassion and commitment of our staff who deliver high-quality care every day, despite an increase in demand for our services.”
“I can assure Queenslanders that our $764 million Putting Patients First plan to keep Queenslanders out of hospital is bolstering our frontline health workforce and strengthening the Queensland Ambulance Service.
“It is delivering more beds and delivering the major hospital upgrades and expansions we need to provide the best health-care possible.”
Opposition
NB: The following statistics are state wide while the previous Government figures were only for Darling Downs hospitals.
According to Shadow Minister Health Ros Bates, “Damning figures have revealed the horror decline of Queensland’s Health System during the past nine years of the Palaszczuk Labor Government, with thousands of patients spending more than 24 hours in packed emergency departments.”
“The data shows the number of Queenslanders languishing in emergency departments for 24 hours or more has skyrocketed by 375 per cent since Labor came to power,” Ms Bates said.
“A staggering 17,930 patients spent longer than 24 hours inside the emergency department in 2022/23, compared to just 3,772 patients in 2015/16.
“In the last financial year, 17,930 patients endured a 24 hour stint in Emergency.”
Ms Bates said these numbers were another scary consequence of the chaos and crisis of the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
“These figures are startling and paints a picture of Labor’s chaos and crisis,” Ms Bates said.
“They’re a direct result of a government that’s failed to plan, resource and run Queensland Health adequately for nine years.
“More than 17,000 patients spent 24 hours or more in emergency departments in the last financial year, how much longer will Queenslanders have to wait for the health system to be fixed?
“Our doctors and nurses are exhausted because they’re working double and triple shifts.
“After three terms in office, the Palaszczuk Labor Government has given up on listening to Queenslanders,” Ms Bates said.
Trying to interpret the supplied statistics becomes even more complex when other factors such as population increase, Covid and flu epidemics are taken into account.
Political parties will always interpret statistics to support their particular position so Mark Twain’s quote “There are lies, damned lies and statistics,” takes on greater relevance today.
