News & Events: Media Releases

Record year for Cairns Private Hospital

12 January 2006

Despite the constant challenge of the national nurse and doctor shortage the Cairns Private Hospital has recorded its highest number of operations over a six month period.

Chief Executive Officer Richard Lizzio said more patients than ever before are opting for Cairns Private Hospital health care because hospital staff, extensive equipment upgrades, and excellent medical specialists are lifting standards to new highs.

More than 5000 surgical procedures were carried out in the six months to December 2005, amounting to an increase of 17 per cent. It is equivalent to an extra month on the theatre schedule. This followed an increase of 10 per cent the previous year.

Mr Lizzio said the recently established specialised surgical ward, orthopaedic ward, and a new orthopaedic rehabilitation unit are better meeting the needs of the patients and surgeons who are utilising the hospital more.

“The community is no sicker, most of the surgical activity at Cairns Private is elective, which means more people are choosing to have their operations done here,” he said.

The maternity ward has been bulging with a growth in births of almost 35 per cent, equivalent to two months of extra activity.

Mr Lizzio said despite the critical nationwide shortage of medical professionals the hospital has been able to meet the demands of this record activity. “This is due to quality team nursing, the efforts of non-nursing staff and our focus on recruitment and retention of staff.

“ We’ve also had success recently in attracting back some senior nurses who had left the Hospital several years ago unhappy with working conditions and the direction the Hospital was taking. These nurses have heard about the changes we are making and want to be part of our future.”

The appointment earlier this year of a dynamic theatre manager has also contributed significantly to the quality and efficiency of operating schedules, CEO Richard Lizzio said.

Cairns Private has been successful in attracting a number of new specialists to the region which has increased supply of medical services to the community.

“ Far northern residents are realising that Cairns does have the capacity and capability to offer health care equal to that found in metropolitan centres,” Mr Lizzio said.