Each time an individual is listed for surgery, a clinical urgency is allocated. The clinical urgency category is usually defined at the initial consultation or when the doctor makes the booking. During subsequent clinical reviews, the clinical urgency category may be reclassified if the condition of the patient has changed.
The following categories have been adopted for use and define waiting list activity for all elective surgery undertaken in Queensland public hospitals.
Category One: Admission within 30 days desirable for a condition that has the potential to deteriorate quickly, to the point that it may become an emergency.
Category Two: Admission within 90 days desirable for a condition causing some pain, dysfunction or disability but which is not likely to deteriorate quickly or become an emergency.
Category Three: Admission at some time in the future acceptable for a condition causing minimal or no pain, dysfunction or disability, which is unlikely to deteriorate quickly and which does not have the potential to become an emergency.
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