22 June 2011

Elective surgery improvement

| johnboy
Join the conversation
3

Health Minister and RiotACT Twitter follower Katy Gallagher (hello @KatyGMLA ) has announced that the ACT’s elective surgery wait times are better than they’ve ever been before:

The number of elective surgery procedures provided this year alone is now sitting at 10,100 procedures, and this number is significantly contributing to bringing our elective surgery waiting list to one of the lowest levels since March 2004.

“Our waiting list, which has been fluctuating near around 5,000 mark for some years, now sits at around 4,440 to the end of May 2011,” Ms. Gallagher said.

This is a significant reduction of the list and is an indication that additional funding for elective surgery procedures in recent years, the targeted program over the last 12 months, and the dedication of staff is coming together to achieve the desired results.

“Of the 4,440 people on the elective surgery waiting list, just 459 of these have been waiting greater than 365 days for surgery. This is the lowest number of people waiting greater than one year on record.

Amazing things can be done coming off a low base.

Join the conversation

3
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Low bar all right.

Jane Proxy is right – there are other factors that also need to be measured for the effectiveness and efficiency of this statement. For example, try booking an additional operating theatre or performing an extended procedure for these surgeries. Not very easy.

So glad I am one of the 459 people..

“Of the 4,440 people on the elective surgery waiting list, just 459 of these have been waiting greater than 365 days for surgery. This is the lowest number of people waiting greater than one year on record.”

It’s still the second highest in the country by percentage (most other jurisdictions are around the 3% mark), or so said the Auditor-General in January. How are they going against the other KPIs? How about the deficiencies in patient processing, or the poor management of postponements and cancellations?

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.