Vic: More waiting for treatment in hospitals, report
MELBOURNE, Dec 20 AAP - More people have to wait long periods on trolleys before gettinga bed in Victorian hospitals, new figures show.
But elective surgery waiting lists have fallen, and fewer ambulances are being turnedaway from hospital emergency departments.
The Hospital Services Report, released today, showed about 8,285 people were forcedto wait more than 12 hours on a trolley before getting a hospital bed in the Septemberquarter.
This was a 12 per cent increase on the same period last year.
The report showed 39,528 people were waiting for elective surgery, a six per cent fallon the September quarter 2001.
The number of incidents of ambulance bypass fell six per cent to 581.
The report also showed a record 281,144 patients were treated in Victorian hospitalsduring the September quarter - up by more than 18,000 on the same period last year.
Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said the improvements to waiting lists and ambulance bypassrates showed the Bracks government's health policies were working.
She said the improvements had been made despite a number of challenges during the quarter.
"We've had a high amount of respiratory presentations, we've also had a meningococcalscare," she told reporters.
"And we know that another part of the broader context is that we have a decline thethe number of GPs who are bulk billing."
Ms Pike acknowledged further improvements were needed to bring down the number of peoplewaiting for long periods on trollies but she expected gains to be made in this area incoming quarters.
AAP bp/jlw/jmd/sb
KEYWORD: HOSPITALS VIC
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