There’s been an amazing 100 percent reduction in the elective surgery wait list at Liverpool Hospital, which now sits at zero.
This milestone local achievement is part of the 85 percent slash in NSW’s overdue planned surgery wait list since the NSW Government’s surgical care governance taskforce was first established in March 2023, according to the latest official data.
The taskforce, established in the early days of the NSW Labor Government, has seen fewer than 12,000 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.
Locally, there has been outstanding results at Liverpool Hospital with a 100 per cent reduction in overdue surgeries since March when the Taskforce was first established.
Across this timeframe the number of locals waiting longer than clinically recommended for surgery decreased from 804 to zero individuals as at the December 2023 quarter.
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.
The surgical care taskforce is one of a range of measures the NSW Government is using to take pressure off our hospitals.
Among these measures is rolling out 25 urgent care services across NSW, empowering pharmacists to prescribe certain medications, increasing the use of virtual care, and making it easier for doctors in regional health districts to work in both GP and hospital settings.
“A year after launching the Surgical Care Taskforce in Liverpool, I am so pleased to see the waitlist for planned surgeries at Liverpool Hospital slashed to zero,’’ says Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda, pictured above visiting the hospital with Premier Chris Minns.
“This is great news for South-West Sydney residents who rely on Liverpool Hospital for care.
“The surgical care taskforce has delivered quicker care to residents of Liverpool and surrounds. This is an outstanding result for our community.
“Liverpool Hospital is the largest hospital in South-West Sydney. This win is only possible because of the hard work of our doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff.”
