Queenslanders can now get a live look at how the state’s hospitals are coping, with a new online portal launching today that tracks emergency department performance. The Open Hospitals website, covering 25 major hospitals and seven smaller satellite facilities, started sharing real-time stats on patient wait times and treatment space availability from midday.
The system updates every 15 to 30 minutes, showing how many people are waiting, how busy emergency departments are, and how long it’s taking to get seen. It’s a big shift from the old way of doing things, where data only came out every few months, often well after the fact. Now, anyone can check the numbers whenever they need to, whether they’re weighing up a trip to the ED or just curious about the local health setup.
The website’s been built to help people make sense of their options. Alongside the live figures, it’s got info on alternatives like virtual emergency care, plus tips on when to hit the hospital or call Triple-0 instead. There’s even a link to an online symptom checker for those unsure about what’s wrong.
Behind the scenes, the push is part of a broader effort to sort out the state’s health system, which has been creaking under pressure. The idea is to give communities a clearer picture of what’s happening in hospitals, while nudging the network towards better efficiency. It’s not a quick fix—years of strain won’t vanish overnight—but it’s a start.
For the average Queenslander, it means less guesswork about where to go when they’re crook. The portal’s live now, and with more tweaks planned, it’s aiming to be a handy tool for navigating a health system that’s got its fair share of challenges.