Media Release

Elective surgery waiting list targets met

21 September 2010

The COAG Reform Council’s first report assessing the performance of Australian governments in reducing the number of patients waiting for elective surgery has been released today.

“Timely access to elective surgery is a significant concern for many Australians. The community wants to see the backlog of patients waiting longer than clinically recommended for elective surgery dramatically reduced across Australia,” Chairman of the COAG Reform Council, Mr McClintock AO, said.

“The council’s report provides the community with the first independent assessment of governments’ performance in improving efficiency and capacity in our public hospitals.”

Under the National Partnership on the Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan, each State and Territory has agreed targets for the number of elective surgery admissions over three reporting periods.

States and Territories are eligible for reward payments made by the Commonwealth if they meet their targets.

NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, ACT and the Northern Territory have met their elective surgery admission targets for period 1 – 1 July to 31 December 2009 (see assessment table below).

The council was unable to assess Tasmania for its period 1 performance, as data was not provided within agreed timeframes.

"While data were not received in time for a formal assessment, Tasmania has since advised us that it has met its target, and subject to receiving verified data, this will be reflected in our next report, for period 2."

The council’s report for periods 2 will cover the six months to 30 June 2010. The period 3 report will cover the six months to 31 December 2010, and will also consolidate the results across the entire 18 month reporting period.

Results

Assessment table: period 1 targets for elective surgery volume admissions and results

Notes: ‘A’ indicates the performance benchmark has been achieved; ‘B’ indicates the performance benchmark has been only partially achieved; ‘C’ indicates that no progress has been made towards the performance benchmark or no performance information was provided by the data collection body.

Download the full report at www.coagreformcouncil.gov.au/reports/healthcare.cfm

 

Media contact: Megan Staunton, 02 9329 7368, 0419 346 890

 

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