Open Hospitals delivers real-time data
- The first 24 hours of real-time health data proving popular.
- Thousands of Queenslanders are checking to see hospital emergency department pressure points, performance and waiting times.
- Open Hospitals website celebrated by key medical stakeholders.
Queenslanders in need of medical care are logging on and checking the performance of the State's 25 major emergency departments and seven satellite hospitals, thanks to the Crisafulli Government's launch of real-time hospital data.
For the first time in Queensland, data on critical information such as median patient wait times and the number of patients who have been triaged and awaiting treatment to start is updated every 15 to 30 minutes.
Up to 10am this morning (ie in the first 24 hours of operation), the statistics are:
- 5,735 total users in that period.
- The most viewed hospitals in order were Logan, Ipswich, Princess Alexandra, Royal Brisbane Women's and Children's.
- Busiest times for viewing were 8pm with 1206 users and 7pm with 836 users.
- 88% of users accessed the portal from a mobile phone.
The Open Hospitals portal can be accessed at https://openhospitals.health.qld.gov.au/
Delivering real-time hospital data has been a key commitment of the Crisafulli Government's 100 Day Plan, providing transparency and accountability while supporting increased public awareness of the health system.
Under the former Labor government, health data was often hidden from Queenslanders, with the information only released quarterly and when it was politically convenient.
Minister for Ambulance and Health Services Tim Nicholls said the successful launch of the website is a major development.
"Queenslanders now have the critical information they need to make informed decisions about their healthcare options," Minister Nicholls said.
"Patients and our hardworking frontline doctors and nurses made it clear they want more insights into how our health system is performing and now it is happening.
"The Crisafulli Government has now delivered real-time data in less than 100 days, something the former Labor Government couldn't achieve in 3,500 days.
"As I said yesterday when we launched this portal, there are no silver bullets to fix the multiple challenges our health system faces, but https://openhospitals.health.qld.gov.au/ is an important first step, providing accurate real-time information to Queenslanders.
"It's why our Easier Access to Health Services Plan is focused on backing our frontline healthcare workers and ensuring patients can receive the care they need, when they need it.
"I want to make it clear, anyone who needs emergency attention should go to their nearest emergency department or call an ambulance on Triple-0 (000) for assistance.
"It's vitally important that Queenslanders get the right care for their condition."
Dr Danielle Allan, President of the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland said this is such an achievement in pulling meaningful data from a number of systems to ensure transparency for the public.
"It will have benefits for our General Practitioners as well when needing to refer patients from primary care into the hospital emergency department or minor illness and injury clinics," Dr Allan said.
"The 25 sites are a great first step and include regional sites and we look forward to seeing more sites included over time and eventually all Queensland Health Emergency Departments included in the data."
Keith Tracey-Patte, Chief Executive Officer, Health Consumers Queensland, said this is an important forward step, helping consumers to be better informed.
"We congratulate the Government for ensuring that the new website has been designed from the start with consumer input," Mr Tracey-Patte said.
"This new website allows consumers to view real-time, high-quality data so that they can make decisions about how best to access health care services they need."
Australian Medical Association Queensland President Dr Nick Yim also congratulated the Crisafulli Government on the Open Hospitals website.
"This is a welcome first step in modernising our health system and something the AMA Queensland has urged the government to do for years," Dr Yim said.
