A QUARTER "bookended" by bushfires and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in presentations to Hunter emergency departments and a decrease in elective surgeries, the latest Healthcare Quarterly report shows.
The Bureau of Health information's latest report shows ED attendances across Hunter New England increased by 0.6 per cent between January and March compared to the same time last year, while the number of elective surgeries dropped 7.8 per cent.
ED attendances at the John Hunter Hospital were up by 0.9 per cent to 21,425 , and of those, 62.2 per cent of patients left within four hours and 77.9 per cent started treatment within clinically recommended time frames.
The total number of elective surgeries at the hospital were down by 3.9 per cent, but urgent surgeries were up by 6.8 per cent. Hunter New England Health chief Michael DiRienzo said despite significant disruptions to day-to-day services, their "dedicated staff" had worked hard to ensure patients received high-quality care.
"This quarter was bookended by some of the worst bushfires in NSW's history and the elective surgery postponements enforced to help the nation respond to the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
"I'm proud of all our staff who have gone above and beyond to keep patient care running at such a high standard during these unprecedented times in health."
The number of patients starting emergency care on time in Hunter New England remained steady at 74.3 percent, a decrease of 0.1 percent, despite an increase in ED attendances for resuscitation of 16.7 per cent and a 3.8 per cent increase in ambulance arrivals.
John Hunter Hospital also improved its "transfer of care" result, with 90.4 percent of 5,893 patients transferred from ambulances to the emergency department within 30 minutes, despite a 3 per cent increase in ambulance arrivals at the hospital.
ED attendances were down by 4.7 per cent at the Calvary Mater compared to the same time last year.
Of its 9817 ED patients, 68.7 per cent left within four hours, down 3.9 percentage points, and 81.2 per cent started treatment within clinically recommended time frames, down 3.3 per cent.
ED attendances were up by 2.1 per cent at Belmont Hospital, and overall elective surgery numbers were down 3.4 per cent. Urgent elective surgeries were down by 12.1 per cent.
At Maitland Hospital, ED presentations were down 2.9 per cent, and the total number of elective surgeries down 9.3 per cent.
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