Right to information documents released yesterday show more than 1,400 elective surgeries performed across Tasmania in private and not-for-profit hospitals in 2015-16, as part of the Hodgman Liberal Government’s plan to drive down waiting lists.
The documents show a wide range of surgeries, including hip and knee replacements, complex spinal surgery, hernia repair and cataract removal.
These surgeries are in addition to large volumes of surgery being performed in our public hospitals, as we roll out our $76 million investment and record spending in health.
In total there were 17,590 admissions for patients on Tasmania’s public elective surgery waiting list over 12 months to April 2015. This is a record – more than any previous full year of elective surgery activity.
This has been enabled by opening new theatres in Launceston and boosting capacity in Hobart, as well as undertaking additional surgeries in our North West hospitals.
The Hodgman Liberal Government’s Plan to reduce elective surgery waiting lists is working with the elective surgery waiting list at its lowest point in almost three years.
In addition, the number of over-boundary patients (waiting longer than recommended) fell by 40 per cent, and the over-boundary waiting list has now fallen to its lowest point since current data collection commenced in 2005, an all time low of 2,463 people.
Our funding combined with our health reforms are helping people while Labor spout inaccurate and outdated ideological claims against using both public and private hospitals.
Our Plan for the Mersey Community Hospital to become a dedicated elective surgery centre from July will further assist in reducing waiting lists.
With the Budget back on track we can afford to reinvest more in essential services such as health, with a record $6.4 billion investment over the next four years.
Under the One State, One Health System, Better Outcomes reforms the Liberal Government is changing the way our health system operates, and we will continue to take action to ensure better, timelier health services for Tasmanians.
The RTI can be found here:
http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/220600/RTI201516-102_-_Online.pdf
