Queensland Health does not know how many sexual assault victims have experienced delays in receiving medical care at its hospitals, a new report has found.

In November last year, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman issued a ministerial directive to ensure victims of sexual assault received clinical care within 10 minutes of presenting to a public hospital and health services (HHS).

A report from auditor-general Rachel Vagg found, in the absence of a reporting framework, it was difficult to accurately assess the performance of Queensland Health in meeting the directive.

"As of 16 August 2024, HHSs reported that there were 49 instances where they failed to ensure victims commenced a clinical care pathway within 10 minutes of presenting to a hospital," Ms Vagg said.

"Given HHSs are required to self-report this data, we do not know if more HHSs have failed to comply with the direction, and not reported it."

She also noted just one of four audited HHSs recorded the time it took to begin a forensic medical examination of a sexual assault victim.

"Between January and March 2024, it took an average of three hours to do this after a victim presented," she said.

"In one case, a patient had to wait nine hours at a hospital before a doctor started the forensic medical examination.

"This was due to staffing shortages. Due to limitations with the HHS data, we could not determine if this was an isolated case."

Doctors are qualified to perform forensic medical examinations, but nurses require training.

However, the report found Queensland Health did not track how many practitioners could perform the procedures.

Sexual assault support services:

· Queensland Sexual Assault Helpline: 1800 010 120

· 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

· National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service: 1800 211 028

· Bravehearts (support for child sexual abuse survivors): 1800 272 831

· Centre Against Sexual Violence: (07) 3808 3299

'Frustrated' by report

 *Stephanie's teenage daughter left a hospital in tears without completing a full forensic examination after waiting three hours to receive a rape kit because no trained staff were available.

Her experience prompted a ministerial direction from Ms Fentiman. 

Stephanie said there need to be a more transparent process of reporting.

"Reading through the [report], I was frustrated at some points and shaking my head at other points," Stephanie said.

"I just find it a little bit unbelievable that the Hospital Health Services (HHS) themselves are self-reporting.

She said it appears that every HHS has a different interpretation of what the starting treatment involves.

"[Victims] are in a very vulnerable situation, and they've been brave enough to come forward and report their sexual assault.

"If you're not seen in a timely manner that DNA evidence gets less and less as time goes on."

Improvements made but work still to be done

Ms Vagg found while the department had made in roads in its treatment of sexual assault victims, significant steps still needed to be taken.

"Queensland Health can provide greater oversight of the delivery of forensic medical examinations, to ensure they are both timely and responsive to a victim's needs," she said.

"It has not developed reporting tools to capture when a victim commences an examination, the reasons for any delays, and the quality of forensic samples taken.

"Doing so would enhance the accuracy and completeness of its data, which it could then use to benchmark performance, help improve care, and drive efficiencies."

It was further noted that in the absence of formal paediatric statewide support, some child victims of sexual assault could not access specialised services tailored to their needs.

Queensland Health acknowledges gaps

Queensland Health is developing a statewide framework for sexual assault care, and a performance reporting framework, to be implemented by 2025.

In the most recent state budget, the Queensland government committed $56 million over four years to ensure victims of sexual assault had access to timely and high-quality forensic examination services.

About $12 million of the funds will be used to enhance paediatric services for child victims.

In a letter responding to the report, Queensland Health director-general Michael Walsh conceded progress was needed.

"As we discussed, although significant improvements have already occurred, I acknowledge that there is still work to be done to improve the care of victim-survivors of sexual assault within Queensland's public hospitals," he said.

"I remain committed to supporting Hospital and Health Services to provide high-quality, timely, compassionate care to victim-survivors of sexual assault, wherever they live, and I am confident that the recent investment and system reforms currently underway will assist in achieving this goal."

*Name changed to protect individuals' privacy