May 20, 2024
The number of patients presenting to Emergency Departments at Darling Downs Health hospitals continues to grow, according to the latest performance data released.
During the March 2024 quarter, 50,688 patients presented to EDs across the health service – which includes South Burnett hospitals – up 8.3 per cent on the same period last year.
There was a significant increase in patients presenting to EDs with life-threatening conditions, up 24.6 per cent compared with the same quarter last year.
Darling Downs Health chief executive Annette Scott PSM said that despite the EDs being busier than ever, the most critically ill patients were still seen within the clinically recommended times.
“One hundred per cent of life-threatening presentations (Category 1) to our Emergency Departments were seen within the clinically recommended timeframe of two minutes,” Ms Scott said.
The data showed 1570 patients received elective surgery in Darling Downs Health facilities, with 92 per cent of Category 1 patients treated within the clinically recommended time of 30 days.
Ms Scott said Darling Downs Health had made positive steps to address surgical waiting lists, down 14.2 per cent on last year.
- External link: Darling Downs Health data
