Waiting lists for surgery have increased, ambulance response times have slowed and more people are stuck in emergency departments of hospitals across Western Sydney according to a Bureau of Health Information report.
Hospitals across Sydney’s west featured prominently in the list of hospitals with the highest percentage of patients waiting more than four hours, with two local hospitals in the top five (Liverpool at 52.8 percent and Campbelltown at 47.3 percent.
According to the report, the health and hospital system across the state is under enormous pressure with the waiting list for surgery blowing out to more than 84,000 patients.
This latest figure breaks the record set the previous quarter, when the waiting list exceeded 80,000 patients for the first time.
The record 84,131 patients were waiting for non-urgent procedures like cataract removal, knee and hip replacements and tonsillectomies.
Of those, 10 per cent were waiting longer than 359 days for their surgery.
In April 2011 there were 66,000 patients waiting for elective surgery in NSW.
While surgery wait lists and ambulance response times have grown, patients are also spending longer waiting in emergency departments.
State-wide nearly 30 per cent of patients spend more than four hours in the ED, with 10 per cent of patients waiting longer than 7 hours and 35 minutes.
The NSW Labor opposition says the latest report from the Bureau of Health Information shows Western Sydney hospitals are facing unprecedented strain.
NSW Shadow Minister for Western Sydney and Campbelltown MP Greg Warren said that when it comes to quality health services, Western Sydney was falling behind the rest of NSW.
“It shouldn’t matter if you’re in Liverpool or Leichhardt, everyone living in NSW deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing that if you or one of your loved ones are sick, or injured, you can go to your local emergency department and be seen to as soon as possible,” Mr Warren said.
“The premier told the people of NSW that they could have it all under the Liberals before the last election,’’ says Ryan Park, opposition health spokesman.
“Instead our hospitals are now at breaking point thanks to the government’s neglect and patient care will decline as a result.
“The people of NSW expect the government to make sure there’s a strong, well resourced public health system that’s meeting the needs of people all across our state.’’
