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Darling Downs Health hospitals had 49,822 patients present to emergency departments in the December 2023 quarter, an increase of 7 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2022.
These include 16,872 presentations at the Toowoomba Hospital which is a 6.37 per cent increase compared to the December 2022 quarter.
The Patient Off Stretcher Time (POST) at Toowoomba Hospital saw 66.4 per cent of patients transferred off a Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) stretcher within 30 minutes.
During the December quarter, more than 7,100 outpatients were seen at specialist outpatient appointments at Toowoomba Hospital.
There were 1,534 elective surgery patients treated across the Darling Downs including 1,312 patients treated at Toowoomba Hospital. Positively, 76.5 per cent of these patients were treated within clinically recommended timeframes.
Health Service Chief Executive Annette Scott PSM, said each quarter, Darling Downs Health continues to see an increase in the number of patients presenting to our emergency departments.
"We are continually impressed by the capability and compassion of our staff who deliver high-quality care every day, despite an increase in demand for our services"
Health Service Chief Executive Annette Scott PSM
“100 per cent of Category 1 patients at Toowoomba Hospital were seen within clinically recommended timeframes. The median wait time across all five categories was only 21 minutes, with 60 per cent of patients seen in clinically recommended timeframes.
“Our emergency department staff are dedicated, capable and professional and provide care in stressful and complex settings and I am thankful for their continued effort to improve patient experience.
“This is a good opportunity to remind Toowoomba locals about the Urgent Care Clinic (UCC). The UCC provides free urgent treatment for conditions that aren’t life threatening and is always a good option for patients who would like to avoid the emergency department.
“As Darling Downs Health staff continue to work diligently and swiftly to provide care to the community, I’m excited about what’s to come for the Health Service in 2024.
“We look forward to opening the new Day Surgery Complex in the coming months, as well as commencing construction on the $1.3 billion new Toowoomba Hospital at the Baillie Henderson Hospital Campus.”