❓ Question regarding elective surgery waitlist performance, targets, and funding. Minister defends performance, citing data and blaming Commonwealth for denying bonus payment despite meeting targets.
AnsweredQoN 789Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH — ELECTIVE SURGERY WAITLIST
I refer to the Department of Health’s performance in the area of elective surgery that the minister is responsible for, including the five-year high in the number of waiting patients, the increase in the over-boundary cases as reported in this year’s “Metropolitan Health Service Annual Report 2010–11” and the fact that WA, unlike New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, did not meet the national targets the minister agreed to. (1) How does the minister explain this deterioration in his performance? (2) Have his failures cost the state millions of dollars in federal reward payments? (3) How will the minister reverse the deterioration in performance and restore public confidence in the department? Dr K.D. HAMES
I refer to the Department of Health’s performance in the area of elective surgery that the minister is responsible for, including the five-year high in the number of waiting patients, the increase in the over-boundary cases as reported in this year’s “Metropolitan Health Service Annual Report 2010–11” and the fact that WA, unlike New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, did not meet the national targets the minister agreed to. (1) How does the minister explain this deterioration in his performance? (2) Have his failures cost the state millions of dollars in federal reward payments? (3) How will the minister reverse the deterioration in performance and restore public confidence in the department? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I am very grateful to the member for asking this question. I was hoping to get it yesterday, so I had all the information ready. Luckily I still have it here. There are two aspects to this question. One is the bonus payments from the commonwealth government for meeting targets for waitlist surgery. This state missed those targets and was penalised $2 million. I think the payment would have been about $10 million in bonus payments and we got $8 million. We had to report over, I think, a six-month period, although I am not positive about that; it could have been three months. At the end of the period we had to report the amount of waitlist surgery; we were given one month to put in the figures of how much waitlist surgery had been done. The department went through all those figures and came up with a figure that was 12 patients short of the target out of about 6 000 or 7 000 patients. The department gave the information when it put in the report that it had not been able to do a complete audit, but that was the target and that was the best information the department had on the day. A few weeks later, the department went through them all because not all the reports had come in from all the hospitals throughout the state, and it found we had in fact met the target and should therefore get the extra $2 million. The department went to the commonwealth and said, “Look, these are the finalised figures; we have met the target, can we now have that additional $2 million?” Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
(1) How does the minister explain this deterioration in his performance? (2) Have his failures cost the state millions of dollars in federal reward payments? (3) How will the minister reverse the deterioration in performance and restore public confidence in the department? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I am very grateful to the member for asking this question. I was hoping to get it yesterday, so I had all the information ready. Luckily I still have it here. There are two aspects to this question. One is the bonus payments from the commonwealth government for meeting targets for waitlist surgery. This state missed those targets and was penalised $2 million. I think the payment would have been about $10 million in bonus payments and we got $8 million. We had to report over, I think, a six-month period, although I am not positive about that; it could have been three months. At the end of the period we had to report the amount of waitlist surgery; we were given one month to put in the figures of how much waitlist surgery had been done. The department went through all those figures and came up with a figure that was 12 patients short of the target out of about 6 000 or 7 000 patients. The department gave the information when it put in the report that it had not been able to do a complete audit, but that was the target and that was the best information the department had on the day. A few weeks later, the department went through them all because not all the reports had come in from all the hospitals throughout the state, and it found we had in fact met the target and should therefore get the extra $2 million. The department went to the commonwealth and said, “Look, these are the finalised figures; we have met the target, can we now have that additional $2 million?” Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
(2) Have his failures cost the state millions of dollars in federal reward payments? (3) How will the minister reverse the deterioration in performance and restore public confidence in the department? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I am very grateful to the member for asking this question. I was hoping to get it yesterday, so I had all the information ready. Luckily I still have it here. There are two aspects to this question. One is the bonus payments from the commonwealth government for meeting targets for waitlist surgery. This state missed those targets and was penalised $2 million. I think the payment would have been about $10 million in bonus payments and we got $8 million. We had to report over, I think, a six-month period, although I am not positive about that; it could have been three months. At the end of the period we had to report the amount of waitlist surgery; we were given one month to put in the figures of how much waitlist surgery had been done. The department went through all those figures and came up with a figure that was 12 patients short of the target out of about 6 000 or 7 000 patients. The department gave the information when it put in the report that it had not been able to do a complete audit, but that was the target and that was the best information the department had on the day. A few weeks later, the department went through them all because not all the reports had come in from all the hospitals throughout the state, and it found we had in fact met the target and should therefore get the extra $2 million. The department went to the commonwealth and said, “Look, these are the finalised figures; we have met the target, can we now have that additional $2 million?” Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
(3) How will the minister reverse the deterioration in performance and restore public confidence in the department? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I am very grateful to the member for asking this question. I was hoping to get it yesterday, so I had all the information ready. Luckily I still have it here. There are two aspects to this question. One is the bonus payments from the commonwealth government for meeting targets for waitlist surgery. This state missed those targets and was penalised $2 million. I think the payment would have been about $10 million in bonus payments and we got $8 million. We had to report over, I think, a six-month period, although I am not positive about that; it could have been three months. At the end of the period we had to report the amount of waitlist surgery; we were given one month to put in the figures of how much waitlist surgery had been done. The department went through all those figures and came up with a figure that was 12 patients short of the target out of about 6 000 or 7 000 patients. The department gave the information when it put in the report that it had not been able to do a complete audit, but that was the target and that was the best information the department had on the day. A few weeks later, the department went through them all because not all the reports had come in from all the hospitals throughout the state, and it found we had in fact met the target and should therefore get the extra $2 million. The department went to the commonwealth and said, “Look, these are the finalised figures; we have met the target, can we now have that additional $2 million?” Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I am very grateful to the member for asking this question. I was hoping to get it yesterday, so I had all the information ready. Luckily I still have it here. There are two aspects to this question. One is the bonus payments from the commonwealth government for meeting targets for waitlist surgery. This state missed those targets and was penalised $2 million. I think the payment would have been about $10 million in bonus payments and we got $8 million. We had to report over, I think, a six-month period, although I am not positive about that; it could have been three months. At the end of the period we had to report the amount of waitlist surgery; we were given one month to put in the figures of how much waitlist surgery had been done. The department went through all those figures and came up with a figure that was 12 patients short of the target out of about 6 000 or 7 000 patients. The department gave the information when it put in the report that it had not been able to do a complete audit, but that was the target and that was the best information the department had on the day. A few weeks later, the department went through them all because not all the reports had come in from all the hospitals throughout the state, and it found we had in fact met the target and should therefore get the extra $2 million. The department went to the commonwealth and said, “Look, these are the finalised figures; we have met the target, can we now have that additional $2 million?” Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
(1)–(3) I am very grateful to the member for asking this question. I was hoping to get it yesterday, so I had all the information ready. Luckily I still have it here. There are two aspects to this question. One is the bonus payments from the commonwealth government for meeting targets for waitlist surgery. This state missed those targets and was penalised $2 million. I think the payment would have been about $10 million in bonus payments and we got $8 million. We had to report over, I think, a six-month period, although I am not positive about that; it could have been three months. At the end of the period we had to report the amount of waitlist surgery; we were given one month to put in the figures of how much waitlist surgery had been done. The department went through all those figures and came up with a figure that was 12 patients short of the target out of about 6 000 or 7 000 patients. The department gave the information when it put in the report that it had not been able to do a complete audit, but that was the target and that was the best information the department had on the day. A few weeks later, the department went through them all because not all the reports had come in from all the hospitals throughout the state, and it found we had in fact met the target and should therefore get the extra $2 million. The department went to the commonwealth and said, “Look, these are the finalised figures; we have met the target, can we now have that additional $2 million?” Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
(1) How does the minister explain this deterioration in his performance? (2) Have his failures cost the state millions of dollars in federal reward payments? (3) How will the minister reverse the deterioration in performance and restore public confidence in the department? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I am very grateful to the member for asking this question. I was hoping to get it yesterday, so I had all the information ready. Luckily I still have it here. There are two aspects to this question. One is the bonus payments from the commonwealth government for meeting targets for waitlist surgery. This state missed those targets and was penalised $2 million. I think the payment would have been about $10 million in bonus payments and we got $8 million. We had to report over, I think, a six-month period, although I am not positive about that; it could have been three months. At the end of the period we had to report the amount of waitlist surgery; we were given one month to put in the figures of how much waitlist surgery had been done. The department went through all those figures and came up with a figure that was 12 patients short of the target out of about 6 000 or 7 000 patients. The department gave the information when it put in the report that it had not been able to do a complete audit, but that was the target and that was the best information the department had on the day. A few weeks later, the department went through them all because not all the reports had come in from all the hospitals throughout the state, and it found we had in fact met the target and should therefore get the extra $2 million. The department went to the commonwealth and said, “Look, these are the finalised figures; we have met the target, can we now have that additional $2 million?” Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
(2) Have his failures cost the state millions of dollars in federal reward payments? (3) How will the minister reverse the deterioration in performance and restore public confidence in the department? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I am very grateful to the member for asking this question. I was hoping to get it yesterday, so I had all the information ready. Luckily I still have it here. There are two aspects to this question. One is the bonus payments from the commonwealth government for meeting targets for waitlist surgery. This state missed those targets and was penalised $2 million. I think the payment would have been about $10 million in bonus payments and we got $8 million. We had to report over, I think, a six-month period, although I am not positive about that; it could have been three months. At the end of the period we had to report the amount of waitlist surgery; we were given one month to put in the figures of how much waitlist surgery had been done. The department went through all those figures and came up with a figure that was 12 patients short of the target out of about 6 000 or 7 000 patients. The department gave the information when it put in the report that it had not been able to do a complete audit, but that was the target and that was the best information the department had on the day. A few weeks later, the department went through them all because not all the reports had come in from all the hospitals throughout the state, and it found we had in fact met the target and should therefore get the extra $2 million. The department went to the commonwealth and said, “Look, these are the finalised figures; we have met the target, can we now have that additional $2 million?” Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
(3) How will the minister reverse the deterioration in performance and restore public confidence in the department? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I am very grateful to the member for asking this question. I was hoping to get it yesterday, so I had all the information ready. Luckily I still have it here. There are two aspects to this question. One is the bonus payments from the commonwealth government for meeting targets for waitlist surgery. This state missed those targets and was penalised $2 million. I think the payment would have been about $10 million in bonus payments and we got $8 million. We had to report over, I think, a six-month period, although I am not positive about that; it could have been three months. At the end of the period we had to report the amount of waitlist surgery; we were given one month to put in the figures of how much waitlist surgery had been done. The department went through all those figures and came up with a figure that was 12 patients short of the target out of about 6 000 or 7 000 patients. The department gave the information when it put in the report that it had not been able to do a complete audit, but that was the target and that was the best information the department had on the day. A few weeks later, the department went through them all because not all the reports had come in from all the hospitals throughout the state, and it found we had in fact met the target and should therefore get the extra $2 million. The department went to the commonwealth and said, “Look, these are the finalised figures; we have met the target, can we now have that additional $2 million?” Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I am very grateful to the member for asking this question. I was hoping to get it yesterday, so I had all the information ready. Luckily I still have it here. There are two aspects to this question. One is the bonus payments from the commonwealth government for meeting targets for waitlist surgery. This state missed those targets and was penalised $2 million. I think the payment would have been about $10 million in bonus payments and we got $8 million. We had to report over, I think, a six-month period, although I am not positive about that; it could have been three months. At the end of the period we had to report the amount of waitlist surgery; we were given one month to put in the figures of how much waitlist surgery had been done. The department went through all those figures and came up with a figure that was 12 patients short of the target out of about 6 000 or 7 000 patients. The department gave the information when it put in the report that it had not been able to do a complete audit, but that was the target and that was the best information the department had on the day. A few weeks later, the department went through them all because not all the reports had come in from all the hospitals throughout the state, and it found we had in fact met the target and should therefore get the extra $2 million. The department went to the commonwealth and said, “Look, these are the finalised figures; we have met the target, can we now have that additional $2 million?” Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
(1)–(3) I am very grateful to the member for asking this question. I was hoping to get it yesterday, so I had all the information ready. Luckily I still have it here. There are two aspects to this question. One is the bonus payments from the commonwealth government for meeting targets for waitlist surgery. This state missed those targets and was penalised $2 million. I think the payment would have been about $10 million in bonus payments and we got $8 million. We had to report over, I think, a six-month period, although I am not positive about that; it could have been three months. At the end of the period we had to report the amount of waitlist surgery; we were given one month to put in the figures of how much waitlist surgery had been done. The department went through all those figures and came up with a figure that was 12 patients short of the target out of about 6 000 or 7 000 patients. The department gave the information when it put in the report that it had not been able to do a complete audit, but that was the target and that was the best information the department had on the day. A few weeks later, the department went through them all because not all the reports had come in from all the hospitals throughout the state, and it found we had in fact met the target and should therefore get the extra $2 million. The department went to the commonwealth and said, “Look, these are the finalised figures; we have met the target, can we now have that additional $2 million?” Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr R.H. Cook : You got the numbers wrong. Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : The commonwealth said, “No; the one month after the report date was the cut-off figure. Sorry we’re not paying it.” I have asked for a letter to be crafted to Nicola Roxon because that reply is patently unreasonable. The target for the amount of surgery required by this state was done and we are entitled to those bonus payments. One month is not sufficient time to go through the full list of reports for surgery leading up to that date. Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr R.H. Cook : Did you suggest a different way of calculating it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I look forward, member, to getting a letter of support from you that we met the target. Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll go to Canberra with you to negotiate! Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : My experience with the Minister for Health is — Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr E.S. Ripper : We’ll join with you in a bipartisan approach! Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Well, yes; I probably have a much better relationship with the minister than the Leader of the Opposition does. Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I doubt it. Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : We have worked together on lots of things. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s really quite a good government isn’t it? Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I did not say it was a good government. Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Oh, oh! Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I just said I had a good relationship with the minister. The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
The second issue is our waitlist surgery numbers, and a report that shows our surgery numbers. I happen to have them; they are on the internet, so anyone can download them. I will do some quick comparisons over two years. There are three categories of surgery—1, 2 and 3—1 being urgent; 2 being semi-urgent, 90 days; and 3 being non-urgent, up to 365 days. Country figures are better, but I will just do the metropolitan area because it is easier and quicker. There are 740 people on the waiting list for surgery and 85.6 per cent of those operations are done within the recommended times. It is not possible to get 100 per cent because the list contains some patients for whom surgery is not possible. They might have a co-morbid condition, meaning they have had a heart attack and are suffering from diabetes, for example, in which case they cannot have surgery for the heart attack until the diabetes is under control. When referring to previous years, I like to refer to the years of the Labor Party. In September 2008, 80 per cent of operations were done in the appropriate time under the former government and 85.6 per cent were done under the Liberal–National government. It must be remembered that there has been a significant increase in demand during that time and that the demand continues to rise. Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Mr E.S. Ripper : And this government gets a lot more assistance from the federal government. Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
Dr K.D. HAMES : We put in a lot more money for waitlist surgery than the federal government. We committed to providing $20 million a year for waitlist surgery. The problem is that the demand continues to grow. Under category 2, there were 2 695 people on the waitlist in September 2008, during the former government’s time. That figure has grown to 3 365 people on the waitlist. Although the number of people on the waitlist has grown, that is not the true measure. The true measure is how many operations are performed in the appropriate time. The number of people on the waitlist is the measure of demand and the percentage of operations that are done within the appropriate time is the measure of how efficiently they have been managed. In 2008, 70.2 per cent were done within the appropriate time and in 2011, 78.7 per cent were done within the appropriate time. That is nearly a 10 per cent improvement in the number of operations done within the appropriate time. The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
The last category is category 3 whereby people have waited for up to a year for surgery. That is the one area in which we have not made an improvement, but nor is it worse; it is about the same. There were about 6 200 people on that waitlist during the former government’s time and today there are about 7 300, which is an extra 1 000 people on the waiting list. Ninety-six per cent were done in the appropriate time in 2011 compared with 96.7 per cent in 2008 during the former government’s time. The former government was marginally better than us on that measure, but those figures vary from month to month: 96 per cent and 96 per cent under the former government, and 96 per cent, 95.8 per cent and 97 per cent in 2009, which is better than the former government’s figures. Those figures vary marginally on a month-by-month basis but largely remain at similar figures. In January 2007, it was down to 88 per cent. There was a significant improvement in the last year of the former government’s time for that category but that has been maintained by us. I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
I know that my answer has been a bit longwinded, but it is important to go through these numbers because we have been accused of not doing the surgery properly or on time, but we are. There has been a significant increase in demand and a massive increase in the amount of waitlist surgery being done. We have had a steady improvement in the two most important categories—urgent and semi-urgent—since we have formed government, and we will continue that trend. There is more to be done and we are working very hard to further increase the amount of waitlist surgery that is done to get those numbers down. I believe that we are on top of the problem.
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