The latest report into public hospital performance in the ACT has found increased efficiency, more clinical staff and higher than average bed capacity provided to the Canberra community.

 

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Report Australian Hospital Statistics 2009-10 has found the following:

 

  • 100% of the ACTs public hospitals were accredited and 100% of beds were accredited
  • 100% of Category One Emergency Department presentations were treated on arrival at the ED;
  • Almost 5,000 more Emergency Department services were delivered in 2009-10 compared with the previous year, with a total of almost 107,000 presentations - or an increase of 4.8% against a national increase of 2.3%;
  • The shortest waiting times in the nation for Category Two Emergency Department patients. At 83% this is well above the national average of 78%;
  • A 13 percent increase in outpatient services, jumping from 224,000 occasions of service in 2008-09 to 254,000 in 2009-10;
  • An 3.5% increase in beds per 1,000 population despite a 0.9% decrease in available beds nationally;
  • A 2 day decrease in median waiting time for elective surgery; and
  • An 11% decrease in potentially preventable hospitalisations.

 

The report has found a growth of 330 salaried doctors for public hospitals over the last 10 years, with 620 full-time equivalent doctors now working at ACT public hospitals - an increase of 114 percent on the 2001-02 figure - and an extra 804 registered nurses for our public hospitals, a 63 percent increase over the last eight years

 

However, the ACT still has the highest median waiting time for elective surgery at 73 days.

 

The full report can be found here: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737418863&libID=10737418862