During eight years in opposition, local MP Greg Warren often spoke out about the need to put more resources into Campbelltown Hospital to meet growing demand for health services, including surgery and emergency department response times.
Today, the Member for Campbelltown, who is now a member for the NSW Government under Chris Minns, joined the premier and health minister Ryan Park at Campbelltown Hospital for a positive announcement on health care.
And that was NSW’s overdue planned surgery waitlist has been slashed by 85 percent since the NSW Government’s surgical care governance taskforce was first established in March 2023.
The taskforce has seen 12,000 fewer people waiting for an overdue procedure.
The most recent Bureau of Health Information Healthcare Quarterly reported 83.6 percent of all planned surgeries were performed on time in NSW public hospitals during the October to December quarter in 2023.
NSW public hospitals performed 59,422 planned surgeries during this time, with 99.5 percent of the urgent planned surgeries performed on time.
One of the ways the taskforce was able to achieve these results was by expanding the category of procedures eligible for same day surgery. These include hernia repair; gallbladder removal; tonsil removal; deviated septum surgery and sinus surgery.
“I’m really proud Campbelltown Hospital has had a major reduction in overdue surgeries,’’ Mr Warren said this morning (pictured above).
“It’s a real testament to the workforce here and I am proud no one in our community is waiting longer than they need to for health care.”
Premier Chris Minns said that the health care system has been under incredible pressure in recent years:.
“One of the very first things I did as Premier was set up the Surgical Care Taskforce, so I am glad to see waitlist times moving in the right direction,’’ he said outside Campbelltown Hospital.
“There’s still more work to be done but I want to acknowledge the efforts of the taskforce – and the countless number of health professionals all over NSW – in ensuring people are getting the care they need as quickly as possible.’’
