The latest Bureau of Health Information (BHI) Healthcare Quarterly report shows Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) maintained its planned surgery and emergency department (ED) performance, despite sustained and significant demand for hospital care.
WNSWLHD Chief Executive Mark Spittal thanked staff across the District for their dedication and commitment to providing safe, high-quality care to patients across the community throughout another busy period in July to September 2024.
”This report shows our District maintained its strong performance throughout another busy quarter, despite significant and sustained demand for healthcare services,” Mr Spittal said.
“That performance is a direct result of the hard work of our dedicated healthcare staff across Western NSW, who continue to show incredible commitment to their communities. I want to thank them again for all of their effort.
“These reports show us where we are performing well, but also where we can improve. Our District is committed to providing safe, high-quality care to our communities, and to continued improvement to ensure the people of Western NSW have access to the best care possible.”
During the third quarter of 2024 there were 52,676 attendances to the District’s EDs, including a high volume of patients presenting in the most urgent triage categories.
From July to September 2024, the number of patients presenting to our EDs with an imminently life-threatening condition (triage category 2) increased to a record 5,512 - up 4.8 per cent, or 250 presentations, compared with the same quarter in 2023.
Similarly, the number of patients presenting to our EDs with an urgent (triage category 3) condition also increased to 15,901, up 6.9 per cent, or 1,028 presentations compared with the same quarter in 2023.
Despite this increased demand, almost eight in 10 patients (78.6 per cent) started their treatment on time, which is significantly better than NSW average (61.3 per cent), and across all individual triage categories the time to start treatment was also better than the state average.
Pleasingly, the vast majority of patients (80.8 per cent) were transferred from ambulance to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark time, also better than the NSW average (77.5 per cent).
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, those with less urgent conditions can experience longer wait times when there are large numbers of seriously unwell patients being prioritised for emergency care.
The District continues to work incredibly hard to ensure patients requiring planned surgery receive their procedures as soon as possible. There were 3,036 planned surgeries performed across the District during the July to September 2024 quarter, marking an increase of 8 per cent, or 225 procedures, compared with the same quarter in 2023.
More than nine in 10 patients (90.4 per cent) had their planned surgery performed on time and almost all urgent planned surgeries (99.4 per cent) were performed on time.
In 12 months, WNSWLHD reduced the number of patients waiting longer than clinically recommended for a planned surgery by almost 40 per cent. The number of patients waiting longer than clinically recommended for planned surgery at the end of the quarter was 90, compared to 145 patients at the end of September 2023.
Patients who feel their condition may have deteriorated while waiting for their surgery are encouraged to contact their treating doctor who can review their condition and place them in a higher urgency category if appropriate.
The District also continues to ask the community for their support 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 on 1800 022 222, for 24-hour telephone health advice.
There were 826 babies born during the third quarter of 2024.
More information and data related to individual hospitals across the District can be found on the BHI website.
Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) has announced the sub-acute mental health services provided at Panorama Clinic will be temporarily relocated to the Wattlegrove Unit at Orange’s Bloomfield Hospital campus during the $200 million Bathurst Hospital Redevelopment’s construction.
Twenty-eight trainees across Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) have celebrated their graduation at a ceremony in Dubbo on 15 November, paving the way to begin or continue their careers in health and make meaningful impacts in their communities.
Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) is delighted to announce the recipients of its 2024 Excellence in Allied Health Awards, who were recognised at a ceremony in Orange on Thursday, 31 October.
