Health Minister Jillian Skinner has welcomed the latest Bureau of Health Information
Quarterly Report (January-March 2015) which shows NSW hospitals are providing
timely access to care for record numbers of patients.

Today’s BHI report shows 75% of patients left NSW emergency departments within
four hours and elective surgery performance was strong, despite increased volumes.

“Compared to the same quarter last year, over 17,000 extra patients visited our
emergency departments, over 9,000 extra patients were admitted and more than 370 more elective surgeries were performed,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Our skilled staff have dealt with this record demand for their services in a timely,
professional manner and I thank them for it.”
Today’s data shows significant improvement in emergency department performance in hospitals, including:

• Bankstown /Lidcombe Hospital: 79 per cent of patients treated within four
hours – up from 66 per cent at the same time last year.

• The Children’s Hospital at Westmead: 75 per cent of patients treated within
four hours – up from 68 per cent at the same time last year.

• Prince of Wales Hospital: 73 per cent of patients treated within four hours – up
from 66 per cent at the same time last year.

• Port Macquarie Hospital: 74 per cent of patients treated within four hours – up
from 68 per cent at the same time last year.
The BHI also reports performance in clinically-recommended timeframes by surgical
specialty, including:

• Neurosurgery: 99 per cent of patients are receiving their care within clinicallyrecommended timeframes, compared to 96 per cent at the same time last year.

• Cardiothoracic surgery: 99 per cent of patients are receiving their care within
clinically-recommended timeframes, compared to 97 per cent at the same time
last year.

• Orthopaedic surgery: 97 per cent of patients are receiving their care within
clinically-recommended timeframes, compared to 95 per cent at the same time
last year.

• Ophthalmology: 99 per cent of patients are receiving their care within
clinically-recommended timeframes, compared to 97 per cent at the same time
last year.

Mrs Skinner said the improvements in hospital performance since the dying months of the Labor Government (January-March 2011) to January-March 2015 is very pleasing.

“The proportion of patients who received elective surgery in the recommended
timeframe is now 98% – the highest result ever reported by BHI,” Mrs Skinner said.

“There is always more work to be done in ensuring timely care in our emergency
departments but today’s results are pleasing in the light of increasing demand.”