❓ Ms Mettam questions the Minister for Health regarding elective surgery wait times, citing a specific case and comparing current waitlists to 2017. The Minister acknowledges the issue, explains system priorities, and highlights government efforts to increase elective surgeries.
AnsweredQoN 70Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Health—Elective surgeries
70. Ms Libby Mettam to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the
claims of a so-called record additional $3.2 billion in health investment as
part of the 2024–25 state budget.
(1)
If there is record investment in health services, why is Tara, a 15-year-old
girl, going blind whilst waiting for elective surgery beyond the clinically
recommended time, which is having a profound impact on her life and educational
outcomes?
(2)
Why has the government consistently failed to address the elective surgery
waitlist, which continues to be beyond 50% higher than in 2017, with over 5,000
surgeries like Tara's waiting longer than the clinically recommended time?
70. Ms Libby Mettam to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the
claims of a so-called record additional $3.2 billion in health investment as
part of the 2024–25 state budget.
(1)
If there is record investment in health services, why is Tara, a 15-year-old
girl, going blind whilst waiting for elective surgery beyond the clinically
recommended time, which is having a profound impact on her life and educational
outcomes?
(2)
Why has the government consistently failed to address the elective surgery
waitlist, which continues to be beyond 50% higher than in 2017, with over 5,000
surgeries like Tara's waiting longer than the clinically recommended time?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for the question. I am not going to talk specifically about
Tara, the 15-year-old girl who the member referenced in her question, because I
do not have permission to talk about her circumstances. But I do want to say
that I can appreciate the frustration for both that child and her mother, in
particular, who I know has raised this issue publicly. I am advised that that surgery
has been rescheduled for the near future.
Member, I do
want to reflect on elective surgery generally, and the need to reschedule it
from time to time. The member would appreciate that our system needs to operate
as a system, and so it is the case that from time to time elective surgeries
are rescheduled because they need to make way for more urgent or pressing
cases. This is an appropriate way to manage the health system. It means we get
the best outcomes for all patients who need care. I appreciate this has been
difficult for the family and I do not want to diminish their experience, but I
think it is important that we understand the system has to operate as a system.
As a
government, we have performed a record number of elective surgeries. That is
the truth. We have put in place strategies to boost elective surgeries.
Obviously, during the COVID pandemic, elective surgery was one of the things
that was impacted as we made sure the system was ready to deal with COVID, but since
that time we have performed a record number of elective procedures. That has
been during a time when demand has been increasing because of the growing
population and the ageing population. We have asked all health service
providers to put in place strategies to reduce elective surgery wait times, and
that has included weekend and twilight procedures. In the 2023–24
midyear review, we invested an additional $40 million so that we could build on
the momentum to deliver elective surgeries. As I said,
we have delivered a record number and we will continue to look at what more we
can do to make sure that people get access to the health care that they
need.
I thank the member for the question. I am not going to talk specifically about
Tara, the 15-year-old girl who the member referenced in her question, because I
do not have permission to talk about her circumstances. But I do want to say
that I can appreciate the frustration for both that child and her mother, in
particular, who I know has raised this issue publicly. I am advised that that surgery
has been rescheduled for the near future.
Member, I do
want to reflect on elective surgery generally, and the need to reschedule it
from time to time. The member would appreciate that our system needs to operate
as a system, and so it is the case that from time to time elective surgeries
are rescheduled because they need to make way for more urgent or pressing
cases. This is an appropriate way to manage the health system. It means we get
the best outcomes for all patients who need care. I appreciate this has been
difficult for the family and I do not want to diminish their experience, but I
think it is important that we understand the system has to operate as a system.
As a
government, we have performed a record number of elective surgeries. That is
the truth. We have put in place strategies to boost elective surgeries.
Obviously, during the COVID pandemic, elective surgery was one of the things
that was impacted as we made sure the system was ready to deal with COVID, but since
that time we have performed a record number of elective procedures. That has
been during a time when demand has been increasing because of the growing
population and the ageing population. We have asked all health service
providers to put in place strategies to reduce elective surgery wait times, and
that has included weekend and twilight procedures. In the 2023–24
midyear review, we invested an additional $40 million so that we could build on
the momentum to deliver elective surgeries. As I said,
we have delivered a record number and we will continue to look at what more we
can do to make sure that people get access to the health care that they
need.
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