The Allan government has reiterated its commitment to reducing waiting lists for planned surgeries in Victoria, a task made tougher as the state’s health system continues to recover from the repercussions of COVID-19. In the last financial year, Victoria reported a record 209,000 planned surgeries, yet this fell short of the government’s target by over 30,000.
The pandemic had left a significant backlog, with more than 130,000 patients awaiting urgent surgery in 2021-22. Nonetheless, Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas highlighted that Victoria remained the only state or territory to complete all category one surgeries, deemed the most urgent, within the recommended 30-day timeframe. However, challenges persist, particularly for category 2 and 3 patients, with treatment for category 2 patients lagging 19 per cent behind the government’s targets for surgeries that should occur within 90 days.
Moreover, patients classified under the non-urgent category 3, who are expected to have surgery within 12 months, are experiencing delays, often awaiting almost an additional year to be treated. The government aimed for 95 per cent of these non-urgent surgeries to adhere to the 12-month guideline but missed this target by 14 per cent.
Despite these setbacks, Thomas expressed optimism, noting a consistent reduction in wait times for category 2 and 3 surgeries. New measures are being introduced to alleviate the backlog, including two new operating theatres at Blackburn Surgical Centre in Melbourne’s east. Hospitals are also adopting innovative strategies, such as scheduling specific days for particular types of operations, which helps streamline efficiency; for example, the Austin Hospital has initiated “bone week” to focus on orthopaedic surgeries, which has already seen a significant reduction in their waiting list for those procedures.
In addition, hospitals are enhancing pre-surgical rehabilitation, particularly for patients requiring orthopaedic treatment. This approach allows some patients to undergo physiotherapy and conservative treatment, potentially reducing the need for surgery altogether. Overall, while Victoria’s health officials face challenges in upholding surgery timelines for all patients, concerted efforts are underway to address the surgical backlog in the wake of the pandemic.