Shock public hospital cuts threaten to extend surgery waiting lists

Public hospital funding is set to be cut even though a record number of Australians are waiting for surgery. See who will be affected.

Public hospital funding will be slashed by $2.4 billion over the next four years even though a record 308,000 Australians are waiting up to five years for surgery like hip and knee replacements.

The savage cut hidden deep in the federal budget papers is described as a “major decrease in payments” and it will intensify the massive surgery backlog caused by Covid surgery bans over the last two years.

The cuts amount to $755.4 million in 2022–23 and will total $2.4 billion over the four years to 2025–26.

They are the equivalent of hospitals performing around 33,000 fewer knee replacements this financial year or 39,000 fewer hip replacements.

Over the full four years they are equivalent to 103,501 fewer knee replacements or 121,224 hip replacements.

AMA president Professor Steve Robson. Picture: Supplied

Australian Medical Association president Professor Steve Robson questioned why states and territories were forecasting a reduction in hospital services at a time where demand is at a record high.

“The AMA is stunned that this decrease is forecast at a time when demand for hospital services is at an all-time high,” Professor Robson said.

News Corp understands the cut to hospital spending is due to the states and territories advising the Commonwealth of a significant downwards revision in the volume of public hospital services they expect to deliver over the next four years.

Hospital funding is tied to the delivery of hospital services so if the states provide fewer services they get less money.

The forecast drop in public hospital services is being blamed on the ongoing Covid pandemic even though hospitalistions from the virus are in decline.

Originally published as Shock public hospital cuts threaten to extend surgery waiting lists