Elective surgery waiting times and lists on the north coast are at record levels with more than 5,200 patients waiting for surgery, according to the Independent Bureau of Health Information.
Furthermore, patients waiting for non-urgent surgery are waiting almost a year at Lismore hospital.
This has increased from 5,160 patients in December 31, 2015 to 5,217 – as of March 31, 2016.
Some of the longest waits on the North Coast are for knee and hip replacements and cataract removal.
NSW Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord said the health and hospital system was under enormous pressure – especially on the north coast with the elderly feeling the brunt of the lengthy waits.
Statewide, since the Liberals and Nationals were elected in March 2011 – waits have increased by eight days to 229 days and the number of patients on lists has increased from 66,000 to 74,000 in NSW.
And almost half of the patients are waiting for orthopaedic surgery and cataract removal.
State-wide BHI data showed that non-urgent elective surgery increase from 221 days in April 2011-June 2011 quarter to 229 days in the most recent reporting quarter (January-March 2016).
In 2009, the median wait was 167 days.
Elective surgery includes: cataract removal, orthopaedic surgery, knee replacement, hip replacement, tonsillectomies, gall bladder, ear, nose and throat surgery, urology, gynaecology and hernia procedures.
Mr Secord said elective surgery lists grew in NSW; waits were longer and fewer procedures were undertaken.
‘Unfortunately, patients wait at every stage in NSW,’ Mr Secord said.
‘They wait for an ambulance; they wait outside the emergency department; they wait inside the emergency department; they wait for a bed and then they are discharged early to free up the bed.’
‘This is the human cost of the massive cuts to health and hospitals by the Liberals and Nationals.’
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