Glenn Poole, Auditor-General for Queensland, has announced that the state's health service has made marked improvements in the patient flow system, which had weighed the department down last year.

Queensland Health implemented recommendations in response to Mr. Poole's 2009 reports, which heavily criticised the state Government for hospital bed shortages and the practice of `ramping', whereby ambulances are forced to queue outside hospitals while beds are freed for new patients.

The 2010 follow-up report confirmed that Queensland Health had addressed the recommendations quickly, making substantial progress. "In terms of patient flow there is now a state-wide approach to better managing the patient journey, through the patient flow strategy and proven service delivery models".

Through process improvement strategies, issues with patient flow are being addressed all the way down to the district and hospital level. Mr. Poole did note that more time will be needed for the impacts on patient flow and patient outcomes to become materially evident.

Mr. Poole cited examples of hospital performance indicators, including emergency department waiting times, admission time from emergency department to hospital wards, and ultimately a reduction in elective surgery waiting lists. These are expected to become evident in the coming few years, as the ripple effects of the present improvements affect the larger hospital picture.