The number of Victorian patients waiting for elective surgery is at its lowest level since June 2010.
The latest Victorian Health Services Performance data, released today, shows the state’s hospitals admitted and treated 48,222 patients from the elective surgery waiting list in the June quarter – the highest number ever.
On 30 June this year, 37,004 people remained on the list – the lowest number since the last year of the Brumby Labor Government, when 36,988 patients were waiting for elective surgery.
South West Healthcare Warrnambool has played its role in the significant improvement in hospital performance, with more admissions and more patients treated in emergency.
Waiting lists skyrocketed during the term of the Liberals, hitting a record 50,054 patients in March 2013.
Ambulance response figures, also released today, show that most Victorians communities are waiting less time for an ambulance.
Since the election of the Andrews Labor Government, the average time for an ambulance to reach the scene of a Code 1 accident or emergency has improved across most of the state, with significant improvements in reaching time-critical patients.
The reduced wait times reflect the Labor Government’s boost to hospital and ambulance funding.
The 2016/17 Victorian Budget included a $335 million boost for elective surgery and an immediate $20 million capital works injection. As part of this year’s Budget, $60 million was provided to the Response Time Rescue Fund to improve responses times for patients waiting for an ambulance.
The VHSP shows the Warrnambool Hospital performed strongly in a number of key areas, including:
- Saw 6057 patients who presented to the emergency department in the 3 months to the end of June – up from 6038 presentations a year earlier
- Completed the transfer of 98.5% of patients who arrived at the hospital in an ambulance in the June quarter within the target of 40 minutes, up on its 98.1% transfer rate in the June 2015 quarter and better than the State-wide benchmark of 90%
- Reduced the median wait time to treatment in emergency for all patients
- Treated 91% of Category 2 patients within 10 minutes of arrival at the ED in the 3 months to the end of June – up from 90% a year earlier, and beating the State-wide target of 80%
Our hospitals admitted more patients in the June quarter than ever before – 445,145 patients, 7.1 per cent more than a year earlier. Hospitals also saw 420,766 patients in the emergency department – up from 402,681 a year earlier. Emergency department attendances have increased by over 36 per cent in the last four years, with the level of care patients need also increasing, placing more pressure on emergency department staff.
Quotes attributable to Acting Minister for Health Martin Foley
“Elective surgery waiting lists blew out to more than 50,000 under the Liberals. The Andrews Labor Government has pulled the waiting lists back to their lowest level in six years, and patients are receiving their operations more quickly.”
“The latest Performance data confirms that Warrnambool and our other hospitals are working hard and treating more patients despite the money being ripped away from them by the Abbott-Turnbull Government.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney
“Victoria’s elective surgery patients are receiving their operations quicker as a result of our record Budget funding.”
“South West Healthcare Warrnambool is playing its role in this improvement in ensuring more people get their elective surgery, and get it quicker.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020