ACT fails to meet hospital targets - ABC Online

Updated December 14, 2012 08:11:14

The ACT's public hospitals have failed to meet a key performance target, putting extra Federal Government funding in jeopardy.

This year the ACT Government set a target of having 64 per cent of emergency department (ED) patients admitted to hospital or treated and sent home, within four hours of arrival.

By 2015 there will be a national target of 90 per cent.

But the first report from the National Health Performance Authority shows the ACT's two public hospitals are missing the mark.

It found in 2011-2012, 63 per cent of patients left the emergency department at Calvary Public Hospital within four hours, while only 54 per cent left the Canberra Hospital ED within that timeframe.

Nationally, 54 per cent of patients in Australian major metropolitan hospital emergency departments were dealt with within four hours.

At Canberra Hospital, 90 per cent of patients waited 14 hours and 17 minutes before being transferred to a ward.

The wait was slightly less at Calvary Hospital, at 13 hours and 49 minutes.

Nationally, the majority of patients waited 14 hours and 59 minutes.

The ACT's failure to reach its targets could jeopardise $800,000 in Commonwealth funding.

But Chief Minister Katy Gallagher believes the so-called reward money will be made available.

"They've actually looked at what we are doing to address the timeliness, the changes we are putting in place. They've been well aware of the issues around the emergency department this year and they have said that they will work with us," she said.

Topics: health-administration, healthcare-facilities, states-and-territories, act, canberra-2600

First posted December 14, 2012 08:05:24