The Newman Government’s claim to have improved the performance of hospital emergency departments have been based on unreliable data according to an Auditor-General’s report released today.
“The independent Auditor-General has raised serious doubts about the reliability of the data on the performance of hospital emergency departments, “said Shadow Health Minister, Jo-Ann Miller.
“The Minister for Health Cuts and Closures, Lawrence Springborg, has been running around the state claiming the throughput of EDs has vastly improved under the LNP.
“He has even authorised the waste of taxpayers’ funds to publish advertisements across the state to make those claims.
“But with the release of the Auditor-General’s report we see his claims are built on shaky ground.”
Mrs Miller said the Auditor-General’s report revealed data from emergency departments under the LNP Government was unreliable and open to manipulation at a number of levels within individual hospitals.
“Only 35% of ED patients admitted to hospital are seen within the four-hour target,” she said.
“The target agreed to between the state and federal governments for all ED patients to be seen within four hours was 76% in 2013 and 83% in 2014.
“While patients with basic complaints may be out the ED door and on their way home quickly, those who need to be admitted to hospital for treatment are not despite what the Minister keeps saying.”
The report also said:
– controls over emergency department data “…have been and remain, weak or absent…“
– the lack of accountability for accurate and reliable data “….leaves the system open to manipulation…..”
– some hospitals were admitting patients to SSUs (short-stay units) to meet the four-hour target “…. not when they are identified as being suitable for admission….“
“Lawrence Springborg now needs to be honest with Queenslanders,” Mrs Miller said.
“He needs to admit that his repeated claims to have improved emergency department performance have been based on potentially manipulated and unreliable data.
“Most importantly he needs to put an immediate stop to the waste of taxpayers’ funds for his massive advertising campaigns,” Mrs Miller said.