Staff praised as Mid North Coast hospitals deliver strong results in quarterly report

PUBLIC hospitals across the Mid North Coast are providing high-quality care despite high demand in emergency departments, according to the latest Bureau of Health Information statistics.

The quarterly report is based on the period between July – September 2025.

Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) Chief Executive Jill Wong praised staff for their commitment and dedication, despite the challenging winter quarter.

“These reports are so valuable, showing where we are performing well as a local health district, and where we can improve.”

During the quarter, there were 37,764 attendances to emergency departments (EDs) across the district, an increase of 4.2 percent (1521) compared with the same quarter in 2024.

Of these, 4891 were triage category 2 cases (emergency), an increase of 7.8 percent (353 presentations).

Triage category 3 (urgent) patients also rose to 14,221, an increase of 10.6 percent (1362 presentations).

Despite the rise in demand, the majority of ED patients (64%) began treatment on time, which is in line with the state result of 64.2 percent.

More than eight in 10 patients (83.6%) who arrived by ambulance were transferred to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark, which was better than the state result (75.7%).

Additionally, more than seven in 10 patients (75.1%) who were treated and discharged from the ED, left within four hours of arrival, which is also better than the state result (63.2%).

During the third quarter of 2025, 3202 planned surgeries were performed across the district, a 17.4 percent (474) increase.

More than eight in 10 planned surgeries (86.1%) were performed on time, and all urgent surgeries were completed on time.

Coffs Harbour Health Campus

During the quarter, Coffs Harbour Health Campus had 12,011 ED attendances, an increase of 3.8 percent (441 attendances) compared to the same quarter last year. More than seven in 10 patients (76.2%) who arrived by ambulance were transferred to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark time, which is better than the state result for hospitals of a similar size (71.9%t).

The hospital performed 1094 elective surgeries, a 23.6 percent (209) increase. All urgent surgeries were completed on time. Across all urgency categories, more than eight in 10 planned surgeries (80.6%) were performed on time.

Kempsey District Hospital

Throughout the third quarter of 2025, Kempsey District Hospital had 6705 ED attendances with more than seven in 10 patients (72%) beginning their treatment on time. Almost all (96.7%) who arrived by ambulance were transferred from ambulance paramedics to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark. The majority of patients (80.3%) able to be treated and discharged from the ED, left within four hours.

The hospital performed 405 planned surgeries, with almost all (99.3%) completed on time, an improvement of 3.2 percentage points. All urgent surgeries were completed on time.

Macksville District Hospital

Macksville had 3580 ED attendances, an increase of 3.1 percent (109) compared to the same quarter in 2024. Almost nine in 10 patients (87.9%) began their treatment on time.

Almost all patients (95.9%) who arrived by ambulance were transferred to ED staff within 30-minutes.

The hospital performed 366 planned surgeries, a 29.3 percent (83) increase.

More than eight in 10 (84.2%) planned surgeries were completed on time, a substantial improvement of 41.4 percentage points compared with the same quarter in 2024.

Port Macquarie Base Hospital

PMBH had 13,478 ED attendances, up 5.5 percent or 698 attendances, compared to the same quarter last year. The majority of patients (61%) began their treatment on time.

More than eight in 10 patients (83.7%) were transferred from ambulance to ED staff within 30-minutes.

Of patients able to be treated and discharged from the ED, more than eight in 10 patients (80.9%) left within four hours.

The hospital performed 1034 planned surgeries, a 20.4 percent (175) increase compared to the same quarter last year. More than eight in 10 (84.3&) planned surgeries were completed on time, including all (100%) urgent surgeries.

Working harder

NSW Nurses and Midwives Association General Secretary Shaye Candish, said the data demonstrates nurses and midwives are working increasingly harder with limited resources.

“Triage one, two and three presentations in [all] EDs have increased considerably this quarter, highlighting the rise in patient acuity our members experience on a daily basis,” he said.

As our EDs get busier, staffing ratios will be crucial to keep both staff and patients safe and to ensure quality care can be provided.”

NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary Michael Whaites, said more investment in public healthcare was desperately needed.

“The BHI data shows there are still almost 95,000 patients on the elective surgery waitlist.

“In order to bring these down permanently, we must see the federal government contribute more funding to the states – they can’t do it alone.”

If an illness or injury is not serious or life-threatening, the community is encouraged to call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for 24-hour advice.

Patients who feel their condition has deteriorated while awaiting surgery are encouraged to contact their treating doctor who can upgrade their urgency category if appropriate.

BHI quarterly reports include information based on patient surveys and can be found at bhi.nsw.gov.au/BHI_reports/healthcare_quarterly/Jul-Sep2025.