Cash to cut waiting lists

By Tania Martin
THE wait could soon be over for hills patients on elective surgery waiting lists following a $60 million cash injection into the state’s health system.
Both State and Federal Governments last week announced the cash boost for elective surgery.
The Victorian Government will spend $25.8 million while the Federal Government has committed $34.2 million toward waiting lists.
Victorian Premier John Brumby said the combined $60 million would be made available this year to provide elective surgery to an additional 9400 patients.
Eastern Health, which runs the Angliss Hospital, said it was too soon to tell if the funding would have an impact on waiting lists.
However, Professor Michael Grigg of Eastern Health said he welcomes any additional resources that will assist in meeting the increasing elective surgery demand and helping to reduce waiting lists for patients.
“Our surgical staff both doctors and nurses, are enthusiastic about the prospects of increasing surgical output and we are actively working with the health department to identify the most appropriate use of the funds,” he said.
Mr Brumby said it would also help hospitals increase their capacity for surgery through a capital works and equipment improvements program.
He said that $10.8 million would be spent on capital works, such as theatre and ward refurbishments and on the purchase of necessary equipment.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) Victoria has welcomed the cash injection, saying that it would help to clear the state’s elective surgery backlog.
Doctor Doug Travis of AMA Victoria said the Government’s decision to allocate $10.8 million of the funds for capital upgrades would benefit elective surgery patients now and hospitals in the long-term. “We’re pleased that the Victorian Government has identified the difference between capital upgrades and surgical activity,” he said.
“Our public hospitals are in desperate need of capital upgrades.
Dr Davis also said with elective surgery waiting lists growing, the funds would ensure that more Victorians are treated within the clinically appropriate times.
But he said while the funds will help, the key to reducing waiting times was being able to increase bed numbers.
“When there are no beds to take people to after elective surgery procedures, the surgery must be cancelled – we need more beds in Victorian public hospitals,” Dr Davis said. “The Commonwealth shortfall on hospital funding is more than $700 million and it’s vital that we secure dollar for dollar funding of our public hospitals in the next round of Australian Health Care Agreements.”
Mr Brumby said this new cash would help boost the state’s elective surgery capacity from 130,000 patients a year to 140,000. He said the funding was also expected to halve the number of long-wait patients by December.