BENDIGO Health has cared for 3582 more patients than usual in the 12 months since the opening of the new hospital.
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But while the health care group celebrated its achievements, Shadow Health Minister Mary Wooldridge highlighted ‘failures’.
Today marked the first anniversary of the city’s new hospital – the first part of an ongoing $630 million project.
“We knew that providing our community with a much-needed, world-class facility would result in an increase in patients seeking our services and that has happened,” a Bendigo Health spokesperson said.
In addition to treating more than 3500 extra patients, the hospital welcomed 100 more babies than the previous year.
“In December 2017 we had the busiest month ever in our Emergency Department,” the spokesperson said.
More than 50,900 people have presented to the new Emergency Department at Drought Street since it opened.
Bendigo Health has treated more than 45,970 inpatients, seen more than 82,000 patients in specialist clinics, and performed almost 13,800 surgeries in 12 months.
A spokesperson said demand for emergency surgery had been unprecedented.
But Ms Wooldridge said the elective surgery data for the June – September quarter reflected a ‘massive reduction on performance of the hospital’.
Eighty per cent of Bendigo Health patients had their surgery completed in clinically recommended times – a drop from 87 per cent in 2016, and 10 per cent lower than the state-wide average.
“The time in which 90 per cent of patients receive their elective surgery has blown out from 169 to 248 days,” Ms Wooldridge said.
“The proportion of patients waiting more than 365 days for elective surgery has massively blown out from 1.6 per cent to 5.4 per cent - the worst rate in the state.”
A total of 1154 patients were admitted from the elective surgery waiting list, 90 fewer than in the same quarter in 2016.
Ms Wooldridge linked the statistics to a staffing change in Bendigo Health operating theatres – one of a number of listed low points over the past 12 months.
Changes to microbiology services, the sacking of former chief executive officer John Mulder, and the findings of an IBAC investigation also featured in her list.
Comment was sought from Bendigo Health in relation to Ms Wooldridge’s statements.
Bendigo Health board chairman, Bob Cameron, said the ‘real story’ of the first 12 months of the new hospital went beyond statistics, to the achievements of the staff.
“They walked into a brand new building and a new way of working,” Mr Cameron said.
“Staff had to operate new systems for ordering meals, for requesting cleaning and portering of patients, they had to remember where things were kept and all while learning to operate all types of brand new equipment.
“There were numerous challenges and the staff rose to meet them without hesitation.
The new Bendigo Hospital Project is on time and on budget to be finished mid-year.
The second and final stage of the project will include a helipad, a multi-storey car park, a conference centre and retail, food and cafe outlets.
A two-tiered air link bridge over Arnold Street, which connects the hospital to the building under construction, has been in place since late last year.
Fancy a blast from the past? Check out our coverage of the opening of the new hospital: