Queensland Health plans patient safety overhaul

The Queensland government has flagged an overhaul of the way the state's hospitals report on patient safety following a review of surgical deaths.

Health Minister Cameron Dick has asked his department to prepare a discussion paper about how to improve safety reporting.

In particular, Mr Dick wants private hospitals to be subject to the same safety reporting requirements as public hospitals.

"I know it will be controversial for there to be reporting from private hospitals, but I believe it's in the public interest that people public interest that Queensland know what's happening across hospitals in our state," he said yesterday.

Mr Dick also moved to reassure residents of the safety of the state's hospitals after a report found more than 70 per cent of surgical deaths could have been prevented.

The report by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons found 72 percent of the 7613 surgical patient deaths between July 2007 and June 2016 were considered preventable.

"Queenslanders need to know that our hospitals in our state are safe and they are getting safer," Mr Dick told reporters.