❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Health regarding rising elective surgery waitlists, attributing it to government underinvestment. The Minister defends the government's performance, focusing on urgent surgery targets and demographic factors.
AnsweredQoN 350Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTIVE SURGERY
350. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that the numbers have risen month on month for five years, is this simply
another indication of the government's failure to properly invest in
our health system?
350. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that the numbers have risen month on month for five years, is this simply
another indication of the government's failure to properly invest in
our health system?
AnswerView source ↗
I will say it again: it is not the
number of people on the list that matters; it is the time that they wait —
Ms L. Mettam : Yes, three
years for Michelle.
Ms A. SANDERSON : —
particularly when it is urgent surgery. That is what matters. The number is
increasing because our population is ageing, our population is increasing and
people are requiring more complex surgeries. That is happening around the
world. The member needs to look at the data. We are meeting the majority of our
targets for category 1 and those most urgent surgeries. I may need to correct
the record, but the last time I looked, the average waiting period had risen
from 12 days to 13 days. It has increased by one day. It is still within the
clinically recommended time. The member for Vasse should stop misleading people
and spreading fear. Her only strategy is to scare people and spread fear.
number of people on the list that matters; it is the time that they wait —
Ms L. Mettam : Yes, three
years for Michelle.
Ms A. SANDERSON : —
particularly when it is urgent surgery. That is what matters. The number is
increasing because our population is ageing, our population is increasing and
people are requiring more complex surgeries. That is happening around the
world. The member needs to look at the data. We are meeting the majority of our
targets for category 1 and those most urgent surgeries. I may need to correct
the record, but the last time I looked, the average waiting period had risen
from 12 days to 13 days. It has increased by one day. It is still within the
clinically recommended time. The member for Vasse should stop misleading people
and spreading fear. Her only strategy is to scare people and spread fear.
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