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Victorian hospitals under severe pressure

29 April 2010
 

The latest Your Hospitals report shows that Victoria’s hospitals are under severe pressure.

“The Your Hospitals figures show Victorians desperately need a plan for the future, not just ad hoc quick fixes to plug holes,” AMA Victoria President Dr Harry Hemley

“This report shows that the additional financing that the Premier delivered in the COAG process is sorely needed,” said Dr Hemley. “However, we need to work harder now to build on the foundations of the COAG financing deal so we can actually deliver health care reform for patients.”

The COAG deal has delivered over $800 million to Victorian hospitals over the next four years, and an additional 334 sub-acute hospital beds. AMA Victoria’s Budget submission calls for an immediate injection of 582 beds, then 187 each year thereafter to keep up with population growth.

“Next week’s Budget provides an opportunity for the Victorian Government to deliver more of the additional hospital capacity needed to serve our growing population,” Dr Hemley said. “The Premier now has an opportunity to build on the COAG announcement and make a real difference to Victorian patients.”

The Your Hospitals report shows the extent of the problems facing Victorians seeking care from public hospitals.

More than 69 000 patients missed out on emergency department care within clinically appropriate timeframes (categories one to three only) in July to December 2009 — an increase from 57 000 for the same period last year.

Over 137 000 patients failed to get a bed within eight hours or be discharged within four hours from emergency departments in July to December 2009 — an increase of 10 000 from the same period last year.

Approximately 10 600 patients waiting for elective surgery waited too long in July to December 2009 — a slight decrease from the same period last year. That was only after they got on the waiting list. The Victorian Government again refused to publish outpatient waiting times.

“All public hospital patients should be seen within the clinically appropriate times,” Dr Hemley said. “If patients are not seen on time, there is a greater risk of poor outcomes.”

“These figures show that we are still struggling to keep up with demand. While we have done better in this reporting period, we cannot say it’s yet good enough. Every patient should be treated in a clinically appropriate timeframe,” Dr Hemley said. 

 “Victorian patients should be looking forward to more relief in next week’s Budget.”

Background
 
 
July to December 2009
July to December 2008
Difference

Patients who missed out on emergency department care within clinically appropriate timeframes (categories one to three only)

69 000

57 000

12 000

Patients who failed to get a bed within eight hours or be discharged within four hours from emergency departments

137 000

127 000

10 000

Patients who waited too long for elective surgery

10 600

10 700
-100
 

The numbers above are estimates based on figures in Your Hospitals reports for July to December 2008 and July to December 2009, rounded down.



Jul-Dec08 Jul-Dec08 Jul-Dec08 Jul-Dec08 Jul-Dec08

Actual Number Met treated (est) Missed (est)
Emergency




Ambulance bypass 3.1   no
 
Cat 1 immediate 100 4242 yes
0
Cat 2 10 mins 80 50147 yes 40118 10029
Cat 3 30 mins 70 156544 no  109000 47544
Cat 4 one hr 64 203282 n/a 130100 73182
Cat 5 2 hrs 87 40802 n/a 35498 5304
Bed w/i 12 hrs    


Bed w/i 8 hrs 66 129216 no 84899 44317
Non-admit w/i 4 hrs 74 319000 no 235558 83442






Elective




Cat 1 30 days 100 21061 yes
0
Cat 2 90 days 74 35174 no 26029 9145
Cat 3 365 days 92 20527 yes 18885 1642


76762









Jul-Dec09 Jul-Dec09 Jul-Dec09 Jul-Dec09 Jul-Dec09

Actual Number Met treated (est) Missed (est)
Emergency




Ambulance bypass 2.2   yes
 
Cat 1 immediate 100 4217 yes 4217 0
Cat 2 10 mins 79 52767 no 41686 11081
Cat 3 30 mins 66 172770 no 114028 58742
Cat 4 one hr 62 215125 n/a 133378 81747
Cat 5 2 hrs 87 38281 n/a 33304 4977
Bed w/i 12 hrs    


Bed w/i 8 hrs 66 140487 no 92721 47766
Non-admit w/i 4 hrs 73 332000 no 242310 89690






Elective




Cat 1 30 days 100 21732 no
53
Cat 2 90 days 77 37721 no 29045 8676
Cat 3 365 days 93 20048 yes 18645 1403


79501



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