Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 219

❓ Hon Rod Caddies questions the Minister for Health regarding long waiting times for children's routine surgery in the public health system and the potential developmental impacts of delayed care. The Minister acknowledges extended wait times can occur due to various factors, and that patient priority is based on clinical need.

AnsweredQoN 219Legislative Council

Asked

29 May 2025

Member

Hon Rod Caddies

Portfolio

Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to waiting times for children within the public health system, and I ask: (a) can the Minister confirm waiting times for children requiring routine surgery can be as long as one and a half years form the time of referral from a specialist; (b) has the Department briefed the Minister in relation to the long term developmental problems delayed healthcare can cause for children; (c) if yes to (b), will the Minister table such advice; (d) if no to (b), will the Minister request such a briefing and then table it; (e) if no to (c), why not; and (f) if no to (d), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

12 August 2025

Responded by

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health

Response time

7 days

(a)-(f) Briefings to the Minister in relation to the above matter includes advice that in some individual cases, extended surgical wait times can occur for several reasons including patient or parent availability, and clinical or family decisions to defer care for a patient. All patients are categorised based on clinical need and urgency, and in the event a patient’s clinical care requirements change, their priority for surgery would be re-assessed.

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