GPs put state in a healthy position

TASMANIA is one of the lowest ranked states in Australia for preventable hospitalisations, new research has found.

New findings from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare ranks Tasmania positively in sixth of the eight states and territories for preventing potential hospitalisations.

The research provides the latest rates for Australia’s 31 primary health network areas and more than 300 smaller local areas.

It updates information for 22 conditions where hospitalisation could have been prevented by appropriate provision of primary or community-based health care.

Tasmania came in at 13,666 cases of PPH, ahead of the Northern Territory (11,687) and the ACT (8057), but well behind South Australia (53,026) and No. 1 ranked state NSW (198,101).

Royal Hobart Hospital Medical Staff Association chairman Frank Nicklason said the figures were thanks to a sound GP system across the state.

“GPs in Tasmania are very used to dealing with situations that are difficult,” Dr Nicklason said. “The GP practice in Tasmania is strong and Tasmanian communities are quite strong.”

Tasmania also had the lowest rate of PPHs for kidney and urinary tract infections, with 203 per 100,000 people, well below the national average of 288.

The top five conditions across the nation that contributed most to the number of days spent in hospital for potentially preventable hospitalisations included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes complications, congestive heart failure and cellulitis, as well as kidney and urinary tract infections.