Northern NSW hospitals perform above state average

NORTHERN NSW hospitals have recorded their busiest year on record, with 228,492 emergency department attendances across 2024–25.

The latest Bureau of Health Information report showed 55,974 patients attended EDs in the April–June quarter, including 7,130 emergency presentations and 20,350 urgent presentations, up 6.8 and 1.2 per cent on the same period last year.

Treatment began on time for 74.9 per cent of patients, an improvement on last year and above the NSW average of 65.7 per cent.

Ambulance transfers within the 30-minute benchmark also improved to 76.3 per cent.

Surgical teams performed 4,041 planned surgeries in the quarter, up 6.1 per cent, making it the second busiest quarter since BHI began reporting in 2010.

More than 75 per cent of planned surgeries were completed on time, with almost 94 per cent of urgent procedures performed within recommended timeframes.

The number of patients waiting beyond recommended times fell sharply, from 607 in March to 194 in June.

Northern NSW Local Health District chief executive Tracey Maisey said hospitals were busier than ever.

“I’d like to sincerely thank each and every one of our staff for continuing to go above and beyond to provide the best care possible for our patients,” Maisey said.

“We have put strategies in place to improve patient flow and prioritise discharges across all clinical disciplines, and these are reflected in the latest report.”