Mackay Hospital and Health Service has completed another outstanding year delivering a record number of services and offering more care closer to home.
The HHS’s annual report tabled in State Parliament today shows the health service is in a sound financial position with an accumulated surplus of $50.4 million.
Board Chair Tim Mulherin congratulated health service staff on another year of outstanding performance and management.
The health service provided a record level of health care, delivering 17.5 per cent above the activity target for 2016-17.
Mr Mulherin said the health service was pleased to enter the new financial year with a 16 percent operating budget increase.
In 2016-17 there were more operations performed, more emergency care given and more telehealth consultations provided.
“Nearly every patient had their elective surgery on time and we exceeded the targets set by the Department of Health,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The opening of a new 12-bed ward in February 2017 is undoubtedly among the highlights, along with expanding mental health services and the launch of the Mackay Institute of Research and Innovation to lead cutting edge medical research and clinical innovation.”
Mr Mulherin said Cyclone Debbie challenged staff and facilities, with Proserpine, Cannonvale, Bowen, Collinsville, Moranbah, Mackay and Sarina all affected.
“Every hospital remained open during the cyclone and the following storm despite varying degrees of infrastructure damage. Many staff worked long hours, going above and beyond their normal roles,” he said.
All patient appointments and elective surgery cancelled due to Cyclone Debbie were rescheduled and completed before the end of 2016–17.
Mr Mulherin said waiting times to see a specialist doctor in the Outpatients Department significantly improved with most people seen within the clinically recommended time.
“This is good news for our community and we thank the hard working staff who made this happen.
“Our vision is to deliver Queensland’s best rural and regional healthcare and one way we can do this is by making sure that people are treated on time.
In late 2016 Mackay Base Hospital started an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist outpatient clinics and expanded to surgical procedures in early 2017.
“The use of telehealth grew by an impressive 48 per cent and we are now one of the biggest users of this world-class technology in Queensland,” he said.
Mr Mulherin said the health service ended the year with a planned deficit of $6.08 million.
“We have broken even in terms of our funding from the Department of Health, but because we have used retained earnings it appears in accounting terms as a deficit,” Mr Mulherin said.
In 2017-18 the Board will invest retained earnings of $21.04 million on continued investment in the digital hospital, Mackay Institute of Research and Innovation and contributions towards the refurbishment of Clermont, Proserpine and Bowen hospitals.
“Retained earnings must be spent in a sustainable way and are for one-off spends on improvements and projects rather than anything with an on-going cost.
“We continue to build the future of Mackay HHS with investments in infrastructure in Mackay and our rural hospitals. Record numbers of intern doctors and graduate nurses also started their career here.
“Mackay HHS is in a very healthy financial position and the community can take a great deal of comfort from knowing that they are benefiting from more services being provided in their own community.
“We start the new year with a strong focus on improving the health of our region in terms of obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption rates and mental health.
“On behalf of the MHHB I wish to express my gratitude to all staff for their pride and commitment in their work,” Mr Mulherin said.
