Waiting … see for yourself

Elective surgery waiting lists …

… at near historical highs and 19 p.c. higher than when Labor came to office, say the Libs

Media Release

Shadow Health Minister

SUE NAPIER, MHA

Monday, 24 July 2006

Waiting list woes

Hospital waiting lists in Tasmania are at near historic highs, according to the latest statistics.

The lists are also more than 19 p.c. longer than in 1998, when Labor won government, despite its claims every year since that it has spent record amounts on health.

Shadow Health Minister, Sue Napier, said 7133 Tasmanians were waiting for elective surgery at the end of the June quarter, according to figures published on the Department of Health and Human Services website.

This is the third worst result for the last three years, and compares with the 5973 Tasmanians waiting for elective surgery in 1998.

Despite slight improvements for the June quarter at the Royal Hobart and Launceston General Hospitals, the figures are higher those recorded this time a year ago.

Meanwhile, waiting lists for the North West Coast have rocketed by almost 20 p.c. during the past six months.

Mrs Napier said the results were dismal, particularly when the government was trumpeting record health expenditure.

“Spending more than ever on the health system is one thing, but delivering results is another,” Mrs Napier said.

“Waiting times for elective surgery in Tasmania are by far the worst of any State and the State Government is still not making any significant inroads into the problem.”

Mrs Napier said a priority for the government was ensuring that operating theatres were fully utilised and building demand forecasting into its management. She also urged the government to consider the Liberals’ policy at the last election of paying for elective surgery to be performed in the private sector as a short term measure to ease patient suffering.