Doctors tackling blown-out surgery wait lists in the regions head-on
The state’s peak medical body is in crisis talks with surgeons to find solutions to exploding elective surgery lists in regional and rural Queensland.
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The state’s peak medical body has set in motion crisis talks with surgeons to nut out practical solutions to the exploding elective surgery lists in regional and rural Queensland, leaving patients unable to access potentially lifesaving surgery.
Following its Ramping Roundtable, the Australian Medical Association Queensland has launched its first Surgical Wait List Roundtable.
Doctors have grave fears over the lack of surgical services between the Sunshine Coast and Townsville.
Clinicians from a wide range of specialty areas with expertise in surgical services and regional
and remote practice, particularly in Darling Downs, Wide Bay, Central Queensland, Mackay and Townsville HHSs, have been invited to submit expressions of interest by April 23.
“Many regional hospital and health services are performing elective surgery at a rate per capita that is, at best, 50 per cent of the rate of Cairns HHS and comparable health services in New South Wales,” AMAQ president Maria Boulton said.
“Doctors are justifiably worried that regional Queenslanders are missing out on necessary
and important surgeries, leading to delayed diagnoses and more complicated and expensive care. If patients are not having these surgeries, they are highly likely to end up in emergency departments, increasing the pressure on our public health system.”
The most recent Queensland Health elective surgery data shows that in the last quarter of 2023 there were 3590 patients in the Townsville HHS waiting for surgery.
In the Sunshine Coast HHS there were 3236, Mackay HHS had 1461, Wide Bay HHS 1768 and Central Queensland HHS 2935.
“Specialists are leaving for metropolitan areas or private practice to undertake elective surgery and maintain their skills, and new specialists are not taking their place in the regions. We rely on international medical graduates for our regional medical workforce but they cannot receive proper orientation and training without specialists on the ground,” Dr Boulton said.
“Our members tell us that working conditions are likely leading to clinical error, with doctors now basically always on-call and performing a disproportionate amount of emergency work compared to their metropolitan colleagues.”
Doctors are working multiple 24-hour on-calls and more than 60 hours a week.
The Surgical Wait List Roundtable will meet for up to six months to come up with solutions to present to Queensland Health.
Dr Boulton said: “The State Government has adopted most of our Ramping Action Plan, with 2500 more public hospital beds, extended opening hours for transit lounges to allow patients to be discharged at night and on weekends and new Patient Care Facilitators in general practices to help patients stay out of hospital.
“We are confident our Surgical Wait List Roundtable will provide similar practical, affordable
recommendations.”
PATIENTS ON WAITING LISTS
Last quarter of 2023
Townsville HHS: 3590
Darling Downs HHS: 3460
Sunshine Coast HHS: 3236
Central Queensland HHS: 2935
Wide Bay HHS: 1768
Mackay HHS: 1461
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