❓ Minister McGinty reports progress on initiatives to reduce elective surgery and dental waiting lists, highlighting significant reductions in patient numbers and waiting times following government investment.
AnsweredQoN 336Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
The Government allocated an additional $10 million in December last year to provide treatment for approximately 3 250 patients who had been waiting longer than 500 days for elective surgery as at 30 November of that year. Can the minister advise progress on this initiative? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Riverton for his question. I am particularly delighted to advise the House that all of the 3 271 patients who had been waiting for elective surgery for more than 500 days at November of last year have now been offered treatment. As a consequence of this program, I am advised that as of Monday, 14 June, 2 892 of those patients have either had their treatment, are scheduled to have their surgery, have had their treatment deferred or have declined treatment altogether. Only 379 of those patients are yet to be scheduled for surgery; however, a number of patients are in active treatment programs with their clinicians and may not need surgery at all. As at 14 June, 1 149 patients have been waiting longer than 500 days for treatment. That is the lowest figure on record. I am also pleased to inform the House of the impact of the initiative on the overall waitlist for elective surgery in public hospitals. At the beginning of this year, 14 411 patients were waiting for elective surgery at public hospitals with an average waiting time of 14.77 months. As of the week ending 13 June, this number fell to 13 342 patients waiting for an average time of 14.19 months. Therefore, the waitlist has been cut by more than 1 000, and the average waiting time has fallen along with it. Looking at different categories of surgery, the figures are also positive. Category one cases, those most urgent that should be treated in 30 days, have maintained an average wait time of approximately 18 days. For the category two cases, the semi-urgent cases that should be treated within 90 days, the average waiting time has fallen from approximately 98 days in January to 80 days. I would also like to inform the House about the progress of the Government’s $2 million plan to cut thousands of patients from the public dental waiting list throughout Western Australia. The strategy targeted public patients who had been waiting longer than 14 months for general dental treatment at clinics in Bunbury, Swan, Rockingham, Warwick, Albany and the goldfields and other areas in the metropolitan area. In January 2004 there were 24 000 patients on the Dental Health Service waiting list. Almost 6 000 of those had been waiting for treatment for longer than 14 months. These figures include people waiting for denture treatments. As a result of the Government’s initiative, the dental waiting list has been reduced significantly. At the end of May that figure of 24 000 patients had fallen to 19 100 patients waiting for treatment - a reduction of almost 5 000 from January 2004. There are now just 1 913 patients on the list who have been waiting for more than 14 months - 133 in the metropolitan area and 1 780 in the country. More than 1 000 country patients have been offered treatment in the metropolitan area but have opted to wait for treatment in the country. There are still too many people waiting for both dental and general surgery in Western Australia, but we are determined to continue these programs which will result in a constant improvement. I table four graphs and tables setting out the state of the surgery and dental waiting lists in Western Australia. [See papers Nos 2445 and 2446.]
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Riverton for his question. I am particularly delighted to advise the House that all of the 3 271 patients who had been waiting for elective surgery for more than 500 days at November of last year have now been offered treatment. As a consequence of this program, I am advised that as of Monday, 14 June, 2 892 of those patients have either had their treatment, are scheduled to have their surgery, have had their treatment deferred or have declined treatment altogether. Only 379 of those patients are yet to be scheduled for surgery; however, a number of patients are in active treatment programs with their clinicians and may not need surgery at all. As at 14 June, 1 149 patients have been waiting longer than 500 days for treatment. That is the lowest figure on record. I am also pleased to inform the House of the impact of the initiative on the overall waitlist for elective surgery in public hospitals. At the beginning of this year, 14 411 patients were waiting for elective surgery at public hospitals with an average waiting time of 14.77 months. As of the week ending 13 June, this number fell to 13 342 patients waiting for an average time of 14.19 months. Therefore, the waitlist has been cut by more than 1 000, and the average waiting time has fallen along with it. Looking at different categories of surgery, the figures are also positive. Category one cases, those most urgent that should be treated in 30 days, have maintained an average wait time of approximately 18 days. For the category two cases, the semi-urgent cases that should be treated within 90 days, the average waiting time has fallen from approximately 98 days in January to 80 days. I would also like to inform the House about the progress of the Government’s $2 million plan to cut thousands of patients from the public dental waiting list throughout Western Australia. The strategy targeted public patients who had been waiting longer than 14 months for general dental treatment at clinics in Bunbury, Swan, Rockingham, Warwick, Albany and the goldfields and other areas in the metropolitan area. In January 2004 there were 24 000 patients on the Dental Health Service waiting list. Almost 6 000 of those had been waiting for treatment for longer than 14 months. These figures include people waiting for denture treatments. As a result of the Government’s initiative, the dental waiting list has been reduced significantly. At the end of May that figure of 24 000 patients had fallen to 19 100 patients waiting for treatment - a reduction of almost 5 000 from January 2004. There are now just 1 913 patients on the list who have been waiting for more than 14 months - 133 in the metropolitan area and 1 780 in the country. More than 1 000 country patients have been offered treatment in the metropolitan area but have opted to wait for treatment in the country. There are still too many people waiting for both dental and general surgery in Western Australia, but we are determined to continue these programs which will result in a constant improvement. I table four graphs and tables setting out the state of the surgery and dental waiting lists in Western Australia. [See papers Nos 2445 and 2446.]
I thank the member for Riverton for his question. I am particularly delighted to advise the House that all of the 3 271 patients who had been waiting for elective surgery for more than 500 days at November of last year have now been offered treatment. As a consequence of this program, I am advised that as of Monday, 14 June, 2 892 of those patients have either had their treatment, are scheduled to have their surgery, have had their treatment deferred or have declined treatment altogether. Only 379 of those patients are yet to be scheduled for surgery; however, a number of patients are in active treatment programs with their clinicians and may not need surgery at all. As at 14 June, 1 149 patients have been waiting longer than 500 days for treatment. That is the lowest figure on record. I am also pleased to inform the House of the impact of the initiative on the overall waitlist for elective surgery in public hospitals. At the beginning of this year, 14 411 patients were waiting for elective surgery at public hospitals with an average waiting time of 14.77 months. As of the week ending 13 June, this number fell to 13 342 patients waiting for an average time of 14.19 months. Therefore, the waitlist has been cut by more than 1 000, and the average waiting time has fallen along with it. Looking at different categories of surgery, the figures are also positive. Category one cases, those most urgent that should be treated in 30 days, have maintained an average wait time of approximately 18 days. For the category two cases, the semi-urgent cases that should be treated within 90 days, the average waiting time has fallen from approximately 98 days in January to 80 days. I would also like to inform the House about the progress of the Government’s $2 million plan to cut thousands of patients from the public dental waiting list throughout Western Australia. The strategy targeted public patients who had been waiting longer than 14 months for general dental treatment at clinics in Bunbury, Swan, Rockingham, Warwick, Albany and the goldfields and other areas in the metropolitan area. In January 2004 there were 24 000 patients on the Dental Health Service waiting list. Almost 6 000 of those had been waiting for treatment for longer than 14 months. These figures include people waiting for denture treatments. As a result of the Government’s initiative, the dental waiting list has been reduced significantly. At the end of May that figure of 24 000 patients had fallen to 19 100 patients waiting for treatment - a reduction of almost 5 000 from January 2004. There are now just 1 913 patients on the list who have been waiting for more than 14 months - 133 in the metropolitan area and 1 780 in the country. More than 1 000 country patients have been offered treatment in the metropolitan area but have opted to wait for treatment in the country. There are still too many people waiting for both dental and general surgery in Western Australia, but we are determined to continue these programs which will result in a constant improvement. I table four graphs and tables setting out the state of the surgery and dental waiting lists in Western Australia. [See papers Nos 2445 and 2446.]
I am also pleased to inform the House of the impact of the initiative on the overall waitlist for elective surgery in public hospitals. At the beginning of this year, 14 411 patients were waiting for elective surgery at public hospitals with an average waiting time of 14.77 months. As of the week ending 13 June, this number fell to 13 342 patients waiting for an average time of 14.19 months. Therefore, the waitlist has been cut by more than 1 000, and the average waiting time has fallen along with it. Looking at different categories of surgery, the figures are also positive. Category one cases, those most urgent that should be treated in 30 days, have maintained an average wait time of approximately 18 days. For the category two cases, the semi-urgent cases that should be treated within 90 days, the average waiting time has fallen from approximately 98 days in January to 80 days. I would also like to inform the House about the progress of the Government’s $2 million plan to cut thousands of patients from the public dental waiting list throughout Western Australia. The strategy targeted public patients who had been waiting longer than 14 months for general dental treatment at clinics in Bunbury, Swan, Rockingham, Warwick, Albany and the goldfields and other areas in the metropolitan area. In January 2004 there were 24 000 patients on the Dental Health Service waiting list. Almost 6 000 of those had been waiting for treatment for longer than 14 months. These figures include people waiting for denture treatments. As a result of the Government’s initiative, the dental waiting list has been reduced significantly. At the end of May that figure of 24 000 patients had fallen to 19 100 patients waiting for treatment - a reduction of almost 5 000 from January 2004. There are now just 1 913 patients on the list who have been waiting for more than 14 months - 133 in the metropolitan area and 1 780 in the country. More than 1 000 country patients have been offered treatment in the metropolitan area but have opted to wait for treatment in the country. There are still too many people waiting for both dental and general surgery in Western Australia, but we are determined to continue these programs which will result in a constant improvement. I table four graphs and tables setting out the state of the surgery and dental waiting lists in Western Australia. [See papers Nos 2445 and 2446.]
I would also like to inform the House about the progress of the Government’s $2 million plan to cut thousands of patients from the public dental waiting list throughout Western Australia. The strategy targeted public patients who had been waiting longer than 14 months for general dental treatment at clinics in Bunbury, Swan, Rockingham, Warwick, Albany and the goldfields and other areas in the metropolitan area. In January 2004 there were 24 000 patients on the Dental Health Service waiting list. Almost 6 000 of those had been waiting for treatment for longer than 14 months. These figures include people waiting for denture treatments. As a result of the Government’s initiative, the dental waiting list has been reduced significantly. At the end of May that figure of 24 000 patients had fallen to 19 100 patients waiting for treatment - a reduction of almost 5 000 from January 2004. There are now just 1 913 patients on the list who have been waiting for more than 14 months - 133 in the metropolitan area and 1 780 in the country. More than 1 000 country patients have been offered treatment in the metropolitan area but have opted to wait for treatment in the country. There are still too many people waiting for both dental and general surgery in Western Australia, but we are determined to continue these programs which will result in a constant improvement. I table four graphs and tables setting out the state of the surgery and dental waiting lists in Western Australia. [See papers Nos 2445 and 2446.]
[See papers Nos 2445 and 2446.]
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Riverton for his question. I am particularly delighted to advise the House that all of the 3 271 patients who had been waiting for elective surgery for more than 500 days at November of last year have now been offered treatment. As a consequence of this program, I am advised that as of Monday, 14 June, 2 892 of those patients have either had their treatment, are scheduled to have their surgery, have had their treatment deferred or have declined treatment altogether. Only 379 of those patients are yet to be scheduled for surgery; however, a number of patients are in active treatment programs with their clinicians and may not need surgery at all. As at 14 June, 1 149 patients have been waiting longer than 500 days for treatment. That is the lowest figure on record. I am also pleased to inform the House of the impact of the initiative on the overall waitlist for elective surgery in public hospitals. At the beginning of this year, 14 411 patients were waiting for elective surgery at public hospitals with an average waiting time of 14.77 months. As of the week ending 13 June, this number fell to 13 342 patients waiting for an average time of 14.19 months. Therefore, the waitlist has been cut by more than 1 000, and the average waiting time has fallen along with it. Looking at different categories of surgery, the figures are also positive. Category one cases, those most urgent that should be treated in 30 days, have maintained an average wait time of approximately 18 days. For the category two cases, the semi-urgent cases that should be treated within 90 days, the average waiting time has fallen from approximately 98 days in January to 80 days. I would also like to inform the House about the progress of the Government’s $2 million plan to cut thousands of patients from the public dental waiting list throughout Western Australia. The strategy targeted public patients who had been waiting longer than 14 months for general dental treatment at clinics in Bunbury, Swan, Rockingham, Warwick, Albany and the goldfields and other areas in the metropolitan area. In January 2004 there were 24 000 patients on the Dental Health Service waiting list. Almost 6 000 of those had been waiting for treatment for longer than 14 months. These figures include people waiting for denture treatments. As a result of the Government’s initiative, the dental waiting list has been reduced significantly. At the end of May that figure of 24 000 patients had fallen to 19 100 patients waiting for treatment - a reduction of almost 5 000 from January 2004. There are now just 1 913 patients on the list who have been waiting for more than 14 months - 133 in the metropolitan area and 1 780 in the country. More than 1 000 country patients have been offered treatment in the metropolitan area but have opted to wait for treatment in the country. There are still too many people waiting for both dental and general surgery in Western Australia, but we are determined to continue these programs which will result in a constant improvement. I table four graphs and tables setting out the state of the surgery and dental waiting lists in Western Australia. [See papers Nos 2445 and 2446.]
I thank the member for Riverton for his question. I am particularly delighted to advise the House that all of the 3 271 patients who had been waiting for elective surgery for more than 500 days at November of last year have now been offered treatment. As a consequence of this program, I am advised that as of Monday, 14 June, 2 892 of those patients have either had their treatment, are scheduled to have their surgery, have had their treatment deferred or have declined treatment altogether. Only 379 of those patients are yet to be scheduled for surgery; however, a number of patients are in active treatment programs with their clinicians and may not need surgery at all. As at 14 June, 1 149 patients have been waiting longer than 500 days for treatment. That is the lowest figure on record. I am also pleased to inform the House of the impact of the initiative on the overall waitlist for elective surgery in public hospitals. At the beginning of this year, 14 411 patients were waiting for elective surgery at public hospitals with an average waiting time of 14.77 months. As of the week ending 13 June, this number fell to 13 342 patients waiting for an average time of 14.19 months. Therefore, the waitlist has been cut by more than 1 000, and the average waiting time has fallen along with it. Looking at different categories of surgery, the figures are also positive. Category one cases, those most urgent that should be treated in 30 days, have maintained an average wait time of approximately 18 days. For the category two cases, the semi-urgent cases that should be treated within 90 days, the average waiting time has fallen from approximately 98 days in January to 80 days. I would also like to inform the House about the progress of the Government’s $2 million plan to cut thousands of patients from the public dental waiting list throughout Western Australia. The strategy targeted public patients who had been waiting longer than 14 months for general dental treatment at clinics in Bunbury, Swan, Rockingham, Warwick, Albany and the goldfields and other areas in the metropolitan area. In January 2004 there were 24 000 patients on the Dental Health Service waiting list. Almost 6 000 of those had been waiting for treatment for longer than 14 months. These figures include people waiting for denture treatments. As a result of the Government’s initiative, the dental waiting list has been reduced significantly. At the end of May that figure of 24 000 patients had fallen to 19 100 patients waiting for treatment - a reduction of almost 5 000 from January 2004. There are now just 1 913 patients on the list who have been waiting for more than 14 months - 133 in the metropolitan area and 1 780 in the country. More than 1 000 country patients have been offered treatment in the metropolitan area but have opted to wait for treatment in the country. There are still too many people waiting for both dental and general surgery in Western Australia, but we are determined to continue these programs which will result in a constant improvement. I table four graphs and tables setting out the state of the surgery and dental waiting lists in Western Australia. [See papers Nos 2445 and 2446.]
I am also pleased to inform the House of the impact of the initiative on the overall waitlist for elective surgery in public hospitals. At the beginning of this year, 14 411 patients were waiting for elective surgery at public hospitals with an average waiting time of 14.77 months. As of the week ending 13 June, this number fell to 13 342 patients waiting for an average time of 14.19 months. Therefore, the waitlist has been cut by more than 1 000, and the average waiting time has fallen along with it. Looking at different categories of surgery, the figures are also positive. Category one cases, those most urgent that should be treated in 30 days, have maintained an average wait time of approximately 18 days. For the category two cases, the semi-urgent cases that should be treated within 90 days, the average waiting time has fallen from approximately 98 days in January to 80 days. I would also like to inform the House about the progress of the Government’s $2 million plan to cut thousands of patients from the public dental waiting list throughout Western Australia. The strategy targeted public patients who had been waiting longer than 14 months for general dental treatment at clinics in Bunbury, Swan, Rockingham, Warwick, Albany and the goldfields and other areas in the metropolitan area. In January 2004 there were 24 000 patients on the Dental Health Service waiting list. Almost 6 000 of those had been waiting for treatment for longer than 14 months. These figures include people waiting for denture treatments. As a result of the Government’s initiative, the dental waiting list has been reduced significantly. At the end of May that figure of 24 000 patients had fallen to 19 100 patients waiting for treatment - a reduction of almost 5 000 from January 2004. There are now just 1 913 patients on the list who have been waiting for more than 14 months - 133 in the metropolitan area and 1 780 in the country. More than 1 000 country patients have been offered treatment in the metropolitan area but have opted to wait for treatment in the country. There are still too many people waiting for both dental and general surgery in Western Australia, but we are determined to continue these programs which will result in a constant improvement. I table four graphs and tables setting out the state of the surgery and dental waiting lists in Western Australia. [See papers Nos 2445 and 2446.]
I would also like to inform the House about the progress of the Government’s $2 million plan to cut thousands of patients from the public dental waiting list throughout Western Australia. The strategy targeted public patients who had been waiting longer than 14 months for general dental treatment at clinics in Bunbury, Swan, Rockingham, Warwick, Albany and the goldfields and other areas in the metropolitan area. In January 2004 there were 24 000 patients on the Dental Health Service waiting list. Almost 6 000 of those had been waiting for treatment for longer than 14 months. These figures include people waiting for denture treatments. As a result of the Government’s initiative, the dental waiting list has been reduced significantly. At the end of May that figure of 24 000 patients had fallen to 19 100 patients waiting for treatment - a reduction of almost 5 000 from January 2004. There are now just 1 913 patients on the list who have been waiting for more than 14 months - 133 in the metropolitan area and 1 780 in the country. More than 1 000 country patients have been offered treatment in the metropolitan area but have opted to wait for treatment in the country. There are still too many people waiting for both dental and general surgery in Western Australia, but we are determined to continue these programs which will result in a constant improvement. I table four graphs and tables setting out the state of the surgery and dental waiting lists in Western Australia. [See papers Nos 2445 and 2446.]
[See papers Nos 2445 and 2446.]
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