More babies die within 28 days of birth in Queensland than across most of Australia, prompting Health Minister Shannon Fentiman to order an in-depth clinical review into the problem.
The latest Report on Government Services (RoGS), released by the Productivity Commission late on Wednesday night, lists 11.5 perinatal deaths per 1,000 births in Queensland in 2022 – including stillbirths and those occurring within 28 days of delivery.
That compares to the national average of 8.1.
Queensland is seventh of the eight Australian states and territories, behind only the Northern Territory, which recorded 19.9 perinatal deaths per 1,000 births.
In raw numbers, 720 perinatal deaths were recorded in Queensland in 2022, compared to 488 in 2018.
Ms Fentiman has asked the Queensland Maternal and Perinatal Quality Council, jointly chaired by obstetric physician Professor Leonie Callaway and obstetrician Professor Ted Weaver, to undertake an "in-depth clinical review to identify potential causal factors and any associated recommendations".
"While perinatal death rates in Queensland have historically been higher than the Australian average, we want to do everything we can to understand any preventable causes and what can be done to address them," she said.
"Although there will always be some outcomes beyond the control of our clinicians, it is pivotal our hospitals receive the necessary support to provide the safest care possible."
Opposition leader David Crisafulli called the figures "chilling".
"And it has got worse over the last six years," he said.
"Despite all of the taskforces, despite all of the announcements, Queensland is ground zero of the states when it comes to mums giving birth."
Reasons for perinatal death rates can be complex and include factors such as a mother's age, her overall health, and premature delivery.
But the 2022 data also coincides with Gladstone Hospital going on maternity bypass for about 12 months, from July of that year.
Biloela Hospital, about 120km inland from Gladstone, also went on maternity bypass in 2022 and remains so because of workforce shortages.
The high Queensland perinatal death rates in 2022 coincide with the release of a damning report into the Mackay Base Hospital's maternity unit, which found many women had suffered lifelong physical and mental harm.
Ms Fentiman — who conducted a maternity roundtable soon after taking on the health portfolio — said the Queensland government was investing more than $100 million to improve birthing services across the state, including the recruitment of more staff.
Queensland performing better in other areas
Queensland outperformed other states and territories in 2022-23 in terms of a key elective surgery measure, according to the Productivity Commission report.
Ninety per cent of elective surgery patients in Queensland were treated within 307 days, compared with the national average of 361 days.
The sunshine state was second behind NSW in terms of the percentage of hospital emergency department (ED) patients seen within clinically recommended time frames, coming in at 67 per cent, compared to the national average of 65 per cent.
In NSW, 74 per cent of ED patients were seen within the recommended times.
"It is no secret there is increasing pressure on the state's health system, but the latest Report on Government Services shows Queensland continues to perform exceptionally," Ms Fentiman said.
"Our public hospitals are delivering more episodes of care, providing more staff to tend to patients, and efficiently managing healthcare costs better than the national average.
"The Queensland government is committed to building on these positive results, which is why it is building new and upgraded hospitals, employing more doctors and nurses, enhancing mental health services and pioneering innovative healthcare services."