Question on Notice 1309/2025: Health, Environment and Innovation Committee Estimates Pre-Hearing Question on Notice No. 11

Topic

Health, Environment and Innovation Committee Estimates Pre-Hearing Question on Notice No. 11

Question

QUESTION With reference to Health, Environment and Innovation Committee Estimates Pre-Hearing Question on Notice No. 11— Will the Minister advise (in table format, reported separately by month and by each Hospital and Health Service) for the period July to September 2025 (inclusive) or closest reportable period, the number of Emergency Department stays greater than (a) 12 hours and (b) 24 hours? ANSWER The Crisafulli Government is investing in a number of targeted responses to provide easier access to health services and improved patient flow in Queensland’s public hospitals after ramping tripled under the former government. Hospital patient flow is being significantly impacted by the Commonwealth Government’s underinvestment in aged care and NDIS supports. Since May 2022, the number of stranded, long-stay hospital patients has more than doubled. These stranded patients, who are medically fit to be discharged to an aged care or NDIS facility or service, are stuck in Queensland hospitals. Despite these challenges, the Crisafulli Government continues to invest in targeted responses to patient flow. There has been a significant improvement in the number of patients remaining in ED for longer than 24 hours compared to the same period last year. From March 2025, Queensland Health’s Director-General has required Queensland public hospitals to report weekly on the circumstances that have resulted in a patient spending more than 24 hours in an ED. The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine has stated that 24-hour stays “should be a never event.” Since March 2025, the number of patients remaining in ED for longer than 24 hours has significantly reduced. In the period requested by the Member, it has more than halved compared to the same period last year (8,315 in July to September 2024 compared to 4,074 in July to September 2025). Table 1: Emergency Department stays greater than 12 hours by Hospital and Health Service by month. Hospital and Health Service Jul-25 Aug-25 Sep-25 Cairns and Hinterland 881 851 822 Central Queensland 1,108 1,103 992 Central West 1 0 1 Children's Health Queensland 75 59 54 Darling Downs 955 1,021 810 Gold Coast 1,746 1,814 1,974 Mackay 801 608 610 Mater Health Service 316 343 247 Metro North 3,137 2,932 2,711 Metro South 4,289 3,961 3,481 North West 53 82 74 South West 27 6 11 Sunshine Coast 1,156 1,220 983 Torres and Cape 10 9 10 Townsville 937 711 437 West Moreton 1,211 1,261 1,213 Wide Bay 1,633 1,636 1,632 Statewide 18,336 17,617 16,062 Table 2: Emergency Department stays greater than 24 hours by Hospital and Health Service by month. Hospital and Health Service Jul-25 Aug-25 Sep-25 Cairns and Hinterland 2 3 2 Central Queensland 434 467 306 Central West 0 0 0 Children's Health Queensland 0 0 0 Darling Downs 55 21 31 Gold Coast 37 71 59 Mackay 117 26 39 Mater Health Service 4 0 0 Metro North 36 25 14 Metro South 90 56 21 North West 7 10 6 South West 0 0 0 Sunshine Coast 12 16 9 Torres and Cape 0 0 1 Townsville 106 11 1 West Moreton 532 342 483 Wide Bay 187 230 205 Statewide 1,619 1,278 1,177

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