Angliss hits back at the Opposition

By Ed Merrison
ANGLISS Hospital has defended its surgery record against allegations of a waiting list blow out.
Shadow Minister for Health David Davis blasted the Bracks Government’s health record last week and cited the Angliss as one of several metropolitan hospitals reporting increases in elective surgery waiting lists.
According to figures in the Department of Human Services “Your Hospitals” report, 835 patients were on the Angliss waiting list in June 2005 compared to 637 in June 1999.
The figures highlight an increase of 198 people waiting for elective surgery, a 31.1 per cent rise in six years.
However, Angliss Hospital general manager Penny Newsome said the results do not take into account increased demand for treatment in the region in the past six years.
“Demand on services, both in emergency medicine and in elective surgery provided by Angliss Hospital, has grown significantly since 1999 and will continue with the growth of suburbia beyond the Yarra Ranges and in meeting the needs of an ageing population,” Ms Newsome said.
“It is misleading to compare elective surgery waiting lists of 2005 with those of 1999 without the context of also recognising demand on emergency medicine.”
Ms Newsome said the Angliss had experienced a 16 per cent growth in emergency demand to June 2005 compared with June 2004, and said emergency cases must take priority over elective cases.
She said the hospital’s record for high quality care was illustrated by its low rate of ambulance bypass and its success rate in dealing with elective surgery cases within the target period.
In the first six months of 2005, the Angliss directly treated more than 99 per cent of patients delivered by ambulance.
During the same period, 100 per cent of its Category 1 (highest priority) elective surgery cases were admitted within the clinically ideal time of 30 days.
Meanwhile, 80 per cent of Category 2 patients were admitted within the ideal time of 90 days.
Ms Newsome said there was room for improvement but assured the community that Eastern Health would continue to develop strategies to best meet growing demands.
“The staff of Angliss Hospital are to be congratulated for managing increasing demand and for their commitment to providing quality, timely accessible services to the community,” she said.