NSW:NSW outpatients report big contrasts

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2011
NSW:NSW outpatients report big contrasts

SYDNEY, Aug 11 AAP - Patients are experiencing a "big difference" between the best
and worst levels of outpatient care at public hospitals across NSW, the Bureau of Health
Information says.

More than 6500 outpatients were asked to rate their level of care at the state's 50
public hospitals.

The results, released in the Bureau of Health Information's Patient Care Experiences
report on Thursday, show that people were satisfied on the whole with their treatment.

But some hospitals lagged behind.

"We have noticed that there's a big difference between hospitals within the highest
and the lowest rating of care in NSW," the bureau's chief executive Dr Diane Watson told
reporters on Thursday.

At Wyong Hospital, 54 per cent of outpatients classified their treatment as excellent,
while Tweed hospital got top marks from only 12 per cent .

Half of all major non-metropolitan hospitals were among the 10 lowest-rated hospitals
in the state.

The top three rated hospitals were Wyong, Camden and Bowral, Dr Watson said.

At the bottom end of the scale were Tweed, Dubbo and Coffs Harbour.

About 6.5 million outpatient visits are made to state public hospitals each year, for
services including clinics for diabetes, respiratory and cardiology treatment and speech
therapy.

Dr Watson said the report provided vital information that would allow staff and management
to pinpoint what the public wanted.

At the top of their requirements were complete and comprehensive care, camaraderie
among staff members, short waiting times and courtesy, she said.

Hospitals should now "make their local decisions about what needs to happen in their
hospitals to improve care", Dr Watson added.

She would not comment on whether funding or staffing influenced the results at certain hospitals.

The bureau's report is based on results from the NSW Health Patient Survey and is part
of an ongoing project that is also looking at people's experiences in emergency departments
and hospital admission.

AAP lcf/tr/jl

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS UPDATE

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.