Health report card for NSW

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDDec 14 2010

The latest report on NSW health shows that it is better than most in heart disease and cancer statistics. However 60% of the state are overweight or obese says the report and 70% of the NSW adults say they have been diagnosed with long-term illnesses.

The report came from the Bureau of Health Information called Healthcare in Focus. The Bureau of Health Information is an independent organization established by the NSW government. It shows how NSW compares internationally and examined healthcare across a range of factors including care, effectiveness, efficiency and value. The comparison was also with Australian states and territories. The report calls NSW system an “international leader” in making significant “health gains”.

Among gains rate of heart disease deaths fell 47 per cent between 1997 and 2007, stroke deaths fell 37 per cent, while colorectal cancer deaths fell 30 per cent. The decrease in cancer and heart disease deaths has decreased “dramatically” over the same period, the report said. NSW system is also providing good value for money it said. The research put total public and private health expenditure in NSW in 2007 at $33 billion, or $4,727 per person living in the state. This compared to $4,249 in the UK and $5,095 in Germany.

The report also read about growing obesity, “These findings are important, given that chronic disease and rising rates of obesity have ongoing implications for the healthcare system.” There is also concern about the high number of Caesarean sections, with almost 30 per cent of mothers opting for the method. C-section might carry risks and are resource intensive. Also 5% of people said they had been given the wrong medication by health professionals. The report found that the problem was in management of chronic diseases like lung disease and diabetes, in rates of avoidable hospitalisations and in ensuring services remain affordable.

According to NSW Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt, “Healthcare in Focus describes NSW as an international leader when it comes to health, and this reflects the hard work and proficiency of our many doctors, nurses, administrators and health experts.”

According to Bureau of Health Information chief executive Diane Watson, “Better management of chronic conditions reduces the need for hospitalisation.” She pointed out that this should be more focussed.

Jan Newland, chief executive of General Practice NSW said the report showed that “chronic disease is going to overtake everything”. She said, “That is where we need to have the focus -- 95 per cent of care is delivered in the community and what we need to do is do that better so we can avoid the unnecessary admissions.”