Elective Surgery Wait Times in Australia Reach Record Highs, AMA Report Finds

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has released its annual Public Hospital Report Card, revealing that wait times for elective surgeries in Australia's public hospitals have reached record highs. According to the report, the median wait time for planned surgery has increased to 49 days in 2022/23, up from 27 days in 2001/02. The nine-day increase in the past two years alone is the largest jump on record, matching the period directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

AMA president, Prof Steve Robson, has called for urgent action to address the expanded waiting times, stating that Australians are now waiting almost twice as long on average for planned surgery compared to 20 years ago. "This is unacceptable," Robson said. The report also found that the proportion of patients receiving category two planned surgeries, which include essential and urgent procedures such as heart valve replacements and nerve decompression, has fallen to its lowest levels.

Why this matters: The record-high wait times for elective surgeries in Australia's public hospitals have significant implications for patient well-being and the overall healthcare system. Prolonged waiting periods can lead to increased pain, reduced quality of life, and potential complications for patients requiring essential and urgent procedures.

In addition to the elective surgery wait times, the report highlighted issues in emergency departments. The national average of emergency patients being seen on time is at the lowest level in the past ten years across all categories except resuscitation. The proportion of people in all triage categories who completed their emergency department presentation within four hours or less was at 56%, the lowest number since 2011 and a 14% fall on pre-pandemic levels.

Despite Australia's growing population, the number of public hospital beds has not kept pace. Between 2017/18 and 2021/22, there were just 11.6 new beds for every 10,000 new Australians, compared to 25.3 new beds per 10,000 just five years ago. The AMA has urged health ministers to agree to a $4.12 billion plan to address the planned surgery backlog, split between the commonwealth and the states and territories, as a temporary measure while a new National Hospital Funding Agreement is negotiated.

Prof Robson emphasized the need for immediate action, stating, "The new hospital funding agreement, while a positive step, will not come into effect until 2025. More investment and agreement by all health ministers is needed now to address the unacceptable wait times and ensure Australians can access the care they need in a timely manner."

Key Takeaways

• Elective surgery wait times in Australia's public hospitals have reached record highs.
• Median wait time for planned surgery increased from 27 days in 2001/02 to 49 days in 2022/23.
• Proportion of patients receiving urgent category 2 surgeries has fallen to lowest levels.
• Emergency department performance has declined, with only 56% of patients seen within 4 hours.
• AMA calls for $4.12 billion plan to address surgery backlog until new funding agreement in 2025.