Qld: Elective surgery waiting lists increase

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2006
Qld: Elective surgery waiting lists increase

By Jade Bilowol

BRISBANE, Aug 2 AAP - The number of Queensland patients waiting for elective surgery
has jumped despite a massive state government campaign to fix the struggling health system.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson today said the total number of patients waiting for
elective surgery statewide increased by 791 over the 12 months to July this year, peaking
at 35,609.

Mr Robertson blamed a six per cent spike in demand for lifesaving emergency and trauma
surgery, saying it had hampered the public hospital system's ability to tackle elective
surgery lists.

"Significant on-going growth in patient demand for lifesaving emergency surgery continues
to affect elective surgery opportunities in our hospitals," he said.

"Emergency surgery is the most urgent type of surgery provided in public hospitals
and must always be given priority over elective surgery cases."

Opposition health spokesman Bruce Flegg poured scorn on the spiralling waiting list,
saying it proved the government had not turned a corner on health.

Dr Flegg said that over the three month period to July 1 this year, there were 1,953
more people on the waiting lists and 1,336 fewer operations being completed compared to
the same period the year before.

He also said an extra 1,970 Queenslanders were waiting beyond the recommended time
for treatment over the last quarter of the past financial year compared to the same time
last year.

"What these figures show is that despite the Beattie government's claims that they
have turned the corner on health, things just continue to deteriorate for Queensland's
public health system under this government," Dr Flegg said.

A spokesman for Mr Robertson said the waiting lists, contained in the latest Elective
Surgery Waiting List quarterly report, did not include specialist outpatient lists, which
are under review.

These lists, branded "secret" waiting lists by the state Opposition, feature patients
seeking an appointment with a specialist to determine if they should be included on the
elective surgery waiting lists.

Mr Robertson said the government was working to improve its elective surgery performance
by recruiting more doctors and nurses, open more hospital beds and fund more operations
visiting medical officers and the private sector.

AAP jvb/sc/goc/grc/sd

KEYWORD: ELECTIVE

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