TREAT US RIGHT

Larger patient numbers than Townsville support cash call

CAIRNS Hospital is the subject of calls for more government funding because it treats far more patients than Townsville Hospital.

Cairns economist Bill Cummings has built a case for the Far North’s hospital to have “tier one” funding after comparing the numbers of people admitted to hospital across several of Queensland’s regional centres as well as income received.

Figures from Cairns and Hinterland and Townsville hospital and health services show Cairns receives an income of $8600 per hospital admission while Townsville receives $11,500.

In the 2015-16 financial year, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) handled 97,180 admissions, compared to the Townsville Hospital and Health Service, which received 75,172.

Mr Cummings said there was a case for Cairns Hospital to transition to tier one funding, or become a level 6 tertiary facility, which would allow it to keep up with demand.

Elevating the hospital’s status would allow the health service to attract more funding, to supply high level tertiary services that Far North Queenslanders currently need to travel south for, such as paediatric health and intensive care.

“In terms of regional population, the Cairns region is now bigger than the Townsville region,” Mr Cummings said.

“On top of normal requirements, you’ve got the heavier requirements from a large indigenous population and it also doesn’t count that we’ve got something like, on any given day, something like 15,000 visitors in the region.

“They’re visitors and their demands on hospitals probably aren’t as big as the residential population, however it’s all a demand for hospital services.”

In a Budget Estimates hearing last week, Health Minister Cameron Dick was questioned by Cairns MP Rob Pyne about demand for services at Cairns Hospital.

Mr Dick acknowledged that the facility was a “drainage hospital” for Cape York and Torres Strait.

“The challenge is: do we continue to expand Cairns (Hospital) so it reaches the tertiary level status ... or do you do it through different infrastructure?” he said.

CHHHS chief executive Clare Douglas said, to ensure safe care, it was important to concentrate certain high-skill, low-volume specialities, such as neurosurgery, in one hospital in the north of the state.

“Currently Townsville Hospital provides these highly specialised services for northern Queensland,” she said.

“The population would need to increase significantly for Cairns Hospital to also deliver these services.”