Wait times for elective surgery and emergency treatment are at dangerous new highs according to figures from the Australian Medical Association. The revelation coincides with a meeting of the nation's health ministers to negotiate a new hospitals funding agreement.

Canberra

Elective surgery wait times in Australia's public hospitals have reached unprecedented lengths, according to recent figures released by the Australian Medical Association (AMA). The report highlights a critical increase in the duration patients are required to wait for elective surgeries and emergency treatments, marking a concerning milestone for the healthcare system. This announcement has emerged simultaneously with a gathering of the country's health ministers aimed at hashing out a new funding agreement for hospitals.

Kee Martin, a resident suffering from severe scoliosis, shared his ordeal of living in continuous pain and his struggles with the public hospital system in Victoria. Despite being told to expect a 12-month wait for spinal fusion surgery, he has been waiting for over two years. The AMA's statistics indicate that the median wait time for elective procedures now stands at 49 days, a significant increase from the 27 days recorded two decades ago. Additionally, the report discloses that only two-thirds of emergency department patients are seen within the recommended timeframes, and there is a notable decline in available beds for the elderly population.

In light of these findings, the AMA is urging for immediate financial aid to address the backlog of surgeries and improve patient care. During the health ministers' meeting, the federal government acknowledged the necessity for reform beyond financial solutions, emphasizing the need to innovate the delivery of healthcare services. Despite efforts by states such as Victoria, which have incorporated private hospitals to reduce wait times, there's a consensus on the critical need for federal support. Among the pressing concerns raised is the scarcity of General Practitioners (GPs) who offer bulk billing, leading to delayed treatment and worsening health conditions for many Australians. 

As discussions continue, the plight of patients like Kee Martin awaiting surgery illustrates the pressing challenges faced by Australia's public healthcare system.



Elective surgery wait times longest on record

Kee Martin lives with severe scoliosis. It's hard for him to even walk his dog. I wake up every day in pain. I go to bed every day in pain. I can barely manage one day at work each week. He's waiting for spinal fusion surgery in Victoria's public hospital system. I was told that they were going to aim for 12 months, but they weren't making any promises. It's been just over two years now. A new report card on the nation's public hospitals shows elective surgery wait times are longer than ever. According to the Australian Medical Association's figures, the median wait time for elective or planned surgery is 49 days, up from 27 two decades ago. Only two-thirds of emergency patients are seen on time, and there are fewer beds for the elderly. We are seeing elderly patients sitting in plastic chairs for hours. We are seeing patients getting intravenous fluids and antibiotics in waiting rooms. We are resuscitating people in corridors. The Australian Medical Association is calling for urgent funding to clear the backlog. But at a meeting of health ministers today, the federal government said it's about more than just money. We can't just be business as usual. We'll talk today about ways in which we can reform the delivery of services, see more services as far as possible delivered outside the four walls of our major hospitals. The states say they've put in programs to cut wait times. In Victoria, they even took over two private hospitals. But they want federal help. One of the biggest issues when it comes to health is the lack of availability of a GP and finding one that bulb bills. So people are waiting and deferring their care and they are getting sicker and they are presenting to our hospitals. Work clearly underway, but many patients are still waiting in pain.

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