SUNSHINE Hospital has been praised by the Health Minister David Davis for improving its performance in several areas.
After the Victorian Health Services Performance Report was released last week, Mr Davis said the Sunshine Hospital showed “strong performances” in a number of key areas during the October to December 2012 timeframe.
All Category 1 patients – classified as those who are critically ill and require immediate attention – were treated immediately upon arriving at the Sunshine emergency department.
The hospital also treated 75 per cent of Category 2 patients within 10 minutes of their arrival at the emergency department – up from 67 per cent in the September quarter, but still below the State Government’s target of 80 per cent.
Category 2 patients are classified as those suffering a critical sickness or very severe pain, like difficulty breathing or severe fractures.
Sunshine Hospital’s emergency department treated 66 per cent of Category 3 patients within 30 minutes of arrival during the December quarter, up from 61 per cent in the previous three months.
The State Government’s target for Category 3 patients – who are classified as having major bleeding from cuts, persistent vomiting or dehydration – requires 75 per cent to be seen within 30 minutes.
The average waiting time in the Sunshine Hospital’s emergency department for October to December last year was 21 minutes, compared to 23 minutes in the September quarter.
Sunshine Hospital also treated 93 per cent of elective surgery patients within the required State Government time-frame during 2012.
Western Health’s Chief Executive, Associate Professor Alex Cockram, praised Sunshine Hospital’s performance.
“It is very challenging to make improvements in waiting times in such busy emergency departments and I am pleased that we are making headway,” she said.
