Report shows patients receiving good healthcare
A NEW report released shows NSW patients are receiving good quality healthcare, however there are areas that could be improved. The Bureau of Health Information’s (BHI) annual report Healthcare in Focus 2015 compares NSW’s healthcare performance to 11 countries and other Australian states and territories. The report’s analysis of over 130 local and international measures shows that, overall, NSW is doing well.
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The report shows NSW gets value for its health dollar – many other countries spend more than NSW but have worse health outcomes. More than three quarters of patients in NSW who used a public hospital said the care and treatment they received in hospital definitely helped them, which is a good result. NSW does well on a number of healthcare measures but it does not compare as well on others, so there is room to improve.”
The report shows healthcare performance varied for people from disadvantaged areas*of NSW. People from these areas experienced:
- Median waiting times that were almost 100 days longer for non-urgent elective surgery in public hospitals during 2014–15
- Higher rates of hospitalisations for chronic diseases and vaccine-preventable conditions, potentially reflecting poorer patient care in the community
- Lower five-year relative survival for a range of cancers in NSW. While five year relative survival has improved over time, socioeconomic differences persist.
People from more disadvantaged areas were more likely to report difficulties accessing the care they need.
The report shows that there are other potential areas for improvement in NSW including:
- High rates of post-surgical complications including sepsis and venous thromboembolism (e.g. deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism)
- Relatively low rates of hip fracture surgery within the recommended timeframe of two days following admission to hospital
- Overuse of knee arthroscopy, which has been shown to have no benefit to those aged 50 and over. BHI’s report highlights areas where NSW can learn from its successes and where the state can do better in delivering high-quality, safe healthcare to people when they need it.
BHI Chief Executive
Dr Jean-Frederic Levesque
Riverina set to be showcased on show
The regional learning experiences and self-contained accommodation in the Riverina will feature in a new episode of Sydney Weekender, shown to over 130,000 viewers, thanks to a partnership with the NSW Government to promote the array of experiences on offer across Sydney and the surrounding regions of NSW.
The episode secured by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, will encourage audiences across the State to plan a visit to this fantastic region. Stretching across diverse landscapes, the Riverina is well-known for its fertile farmlands, fantastic food and wine and elective mix of cultures, and I am delighted that our beautiful region will beam into living rooms across the country on Sunday 29 May. Showcasing our wonderful attractions through Sydney Weekender is a terrific way to help boost tourism and demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to supporting regional towns across the state.
Those planning a short break or longer escape should tune in to Sydney Weekender to discover that the Riverina is home to some of Australia’s best tourism products and experiences.
The episode will feature Agricultural Tours Riverina and an overnight stay at Kindred Apartments in Leeton, and will air at 5.30pm on Sunday May 29 on the Seven Network.
Member for Murray
Adrian Piccoli
