Latest figures show elective surgery waiting lists on rapid rise

UPDATED: WAITING lists for elective surgery in the state’s public hospitals have blown out by nearly 50 per cent in just 12 months, according to the latest Health Department figures.

WAITING lists for elective surgery in the state’s public hospitals have blown out by nearly 50 per cent in just 12 months, according to Health Department figures.

The latest release of data on the Health System Dashboard shows that the number of people on waiting lists increased by 47 per cent from July 2017 to June 2018 — with 7933 people waiting.

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There was a 13 per cent increase in the numbers of category one patients on the waiting list, a 57 per cent increase in category two, and a 46 per cent increase in category three.

The spike was even worse at the Royal Hobart Hospital — with a 24 per cent increase in the category one waiting list, a 60 per cent increase in the category two waiting list. and a 49 per cent increase in category three.

There are now 2530 more people on the waiting lists than at the same time last year, with 1322 of those awaiting surgery at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

The Royal Hobart Hospital. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

And patients are waiting longer.

While 76 per cent of patients were seen within time in July last year, that had slipped to 70 per cent in June 2018.

The figures indicate that overdue category one patients — urgent cases supposed to be dealt with inside 30 days — are waiting an average of 79 days for surgery, up from 66 days last year.

And overdue category two patients — meant to be dealt with inside 90 days — were waiting an average of 191 days, up from 169 days.

The average wait for an overdue category three patient rose from 395 days to 410 days, well outside the 365-day target.

The report also noted 10,463 people on the dental waiting list.

Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell says the latest waiting list figures are another distressing example of a health system that’s struggling to keep pace with demand. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said the figures were “more bad news for the community”.

“The elective surgery waiting list at our hospitals is getting worse every day and despite the hard work of our health professionals, hospitals are struggling to keep up,” she said.

“Labor has been saying for years that [Health Minister] Michael Ferguson needs to do more, and these results are just another distressing example.”

Mr Ferguson said demand for surgery and acute services was increasing, as was health spending.

“To help meet this demand, we have delivered $20 million of extra funding in this year’s Budget to ensure we can perform more surgeries,” he said.

“We are also investing additional funding into elective surgery through our women’s health package, which will deliver up to 900 additional procedures over the next two years, specifically targeting women who have waited the longest for their elective surgery.

“While demand is increasing, it is important to note that the percentage of elective surgery patients being seen within a clinically recommended time remains stable at 70 per cent.”

“There is always more to do and we will continue to deliver our plan to build a better health system.”