The latest Bureau of Health Information Healthcare Quarterly Report April to June 2026 shows public hospitals in Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) continue to deliver timely, high-quality care for patients amid high demand for services.
MLHD Executive Director Operations, Carla Bailey, acknowledged and thanked staff for their hard work throughout the period, which saw an increase in the number of patients receiving planned surgery, and strong results in several emergency department (ED) measures.
Despite high demand for care in MLHD EDs, more than eight in 10 patients (84.1 per cent) started their treatment on time.
MLHD recorded the highest result of all local health districts in this measure, which was well above the NSW average of 68.7 per cent. MLHD also recorded the highest result in the state in the previous January to March 2026 quarter. “Our results reflect the dedication, expertise and commitment of our staff, who work every day to deliver high-quality care for our patients and communities,” Ms Bailey said.
“To have more patients starting treatment on time than any other local health district for two quarters in a row is a remarkable result and demonstrates the impact of that commitment on patient care.”
During the April to June 2026 quarter, there were 41,512 attendances to the District’s EDs, which was 1,859 more attendances, or an increase of 4.7 per cent, compared with the same quarter in 2025.
There were 145 presentations in the most serious category (triage 1 resuscitation), an increase of 11.5 per cent or 15 additional presentations, compared with the same period in 2025.
There were 4,302 presentations to EDs by patients with imminently life-threatening conditions (triage 2 emergency), an increase of 7.1 per cent or 285 presentations, compared with the same period in 2025.
Urgent presentations (triage 3) also increased to 14,913, an increase of 1,186 presentations, or 8.6 per cent, compared with the same time last year.
There were 14,927 semi-urgent (triage 4) presentations, an increase of 599, or 4.2 per cent compared with the same period in 2025.
Non-urgent presentations (triage 5) decreased by 6.0 per cent or 325 presentations when compared with the same period in 2025. This coincides with an increased uptake of alternative pathways to care outside of the hospital, including Healthdirect and the expansion of virtual care services across NSW.
Eight in 10 patients (80.4 per cent) were able to leave the ED within four hours of arriving, well above the state average (64.0 per cent).
The District had 7,965 arrivals by ambulance to our EDs, remaining stable compared with the same period in 2025 (8,030 arrivals).
More than eight in 10 patients (84.4 per cent) were transferred from ambulance to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark time, a result better than the state average (80.3 per cent).
“All patients are seen and triaged on arrival at the ED and, as always, the most seriously unwell patients are treated first,” Ms Bailey said.
“During busy times, people with less urgent conditions can experience longer wait times when there are large numbers of seriously unwell patients being prioritised for emergency care.”
There were 2,265 planned surgeries performed in our hospitals from April to June 2026, an increase of 8.9 per cent per cent or an additional 186 planned surgeries on the same quarter in 2025.
The majority of all planned surgeries (78.9 per cent) were performed on time, an improvement of 7.2 percentage points compared with the same period in 2025. All urgent planned surgeries were performed on time.
Patients who feel their condition may have deteriorated while waiting for their surgery are encouraged to contact their treating doctor who can review their condition and place them in a higher urgency category if appropriate.
MLHD continues to invest in strategies to improve the timeliness for patients presenting to EDs. The Rapid Access Clinic (RAC) at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital is providing an alternative destination for assessment and treatment for many patients who would previously have presented to the ED. Eligible patients are referred to the RAC by the ED, Healthdirect, GPs, pharmacies, and NSW Ambulance.
Implementation of Safe Staffing Levels (SSL) has commenced at Emergency Departments across MLHD. Wagga Wagga Base Hospital has successfully recruited more than 22 FTE nurses and is now rostering in accordance with SSL requirements.
Safe Staffing Levels enables the rostering of a one-to-one nursing care ratio for generally occupied ED resuscitation beds on all shifts, and one nurse to three generally occupied ED treatment spaces and ED short-stay unit beds on all shifts.
MLHD continues to remind the community to support us by saving emergency departments and ambulances for saving lives. If an illness or injury is not serious or lifethreatening, we encourage people to call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for trusted health advice, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
By using urgent or virtual care people could potentially spare themselves a visit to an ED or an out-of-pocket GP cost.
Young Health Service
There were 2,272 ED attendances at Young Health Service during the quarter, an increase of 93 attendances, or 4.3 per cent, compared with the same period in 2025.
The vast majority (91.6 per cent) started treatment on time, significantly better than the average for hospitals of a similar size (79.7 per cent). More than eight in 10 patients (86.7 per cent) left the ED within four hours, remaining stable compared with the same quarter in 2025 (89.2 per cent).
There were 379 arrivals by ambulance, a decrease of 15 arrivals or 3.8 per cent when compared with the same period last year. Almost all patients (94.8 per cent) were transferred from ambulance to the ED within 30 minutes, an improvement of 7.9 percentage points compared with the same period in 2025 (86.9 per cent).
Young Health Service performed 78 planned surgeries during the quarter, and more than seven in ten (77.3 percent) planned surgeries were performed on time.
During the quarter there were 28 babies born at Young Health Service.
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