Despite pressures of trying to rein in a budget blowout from the previous year hospital staff have managed to meet important benchmarks that not only NSW Health demands, but is also a strong public expectation.

When you take a close look at the improvements in waiting times balanced with the 39 per cent increase in the triage one category of patients coming through the emergency department who are in danger of losing their life it is truly an extraordinary team effort.

It is interesting to note that large increase recorded from April to June coincides with the extension of the daytime NSW Ambulance retrieval helicopter service to a 24 hour on call service. 

Is it now too simplistic to say compared to the same time last year patients have a greater chance of survival from a critical medical or trauma emergency?

STORY: Swift surgery a win for Orange hospital

Recently Central Western Daily staff requested statistics from NSW Ambulance officials on the first three months of operation of the 24-hour retrieval service into Orange, however were informed it was too early for statistics to be available and they would prefer to review the statistics after six months of operation so it will be a matter of watch this space.

Can this be mere coincidence there is this huge jump in medical emergencies coming in to the hospital?

Or is it indeed an indication of how vital the 24-hour service is and how many more lives might have been saved if it was introduced sooner? 

Orange has a wonderful concentration of highly skilled specialists, which is the reason Orange’s magnificent hospital has become the hub for trauma and emergency in the Western Local Health District.

For Orange and district residents these latest statistics which show reduced waiting times for surgery and quicker movement through accident and emergency, it is truly an opportunity to pay homage to the dedicated work of our health professionals at the hospital.