Surgery wait time better

Elective surgery wait lists have significantly reduced at Bunbury Hospital since August last year.

Data released by the Department of Health last week revealed just five people were waiting longer than the recommended wait period for elective surgery at the hospital at the end of August.

That is compared with August last year when 119 people were waiting for elective surgeries for longer than the recommended wait period.

A WA Country Health Service spokeswoman said a number of strategies were implemented in the South West region to reduce surgery wait times.

“This has included working with local surgeons, other health service providers and increasing the amount of elective surgeries available at Busselton Health Campus,” the spokeswoman said.

“The organisation also engaged an additional ear, nose and throat surgeon who commenced in the region last year.”

Bunbury Hospital was the only regional hospital to see an improvement despite a steady increase in the number of people waiting for surgeries throughout the 12-month period.

In August last year the hospital had 1187 people on wait lists for surgeries, which increased to its highest point in December with 1256 people.

In August this year there were 1050 people on wait lists for surgery.

Overall bariatric surgeries, commonly known as weight loss surgeries, had a median waiting period of 262 days, the highest median in the State.

Spinal surgery had a median wait period of 151 days, the second highest in the State, and ear, nose and throat specialists had a median wait period of 143 days.

Albany Health Campus had a steady increase of people on surgery wait lists throughout the 12-month period.

In August this year it had 37 people waiting longer than the recommended period, compared to one patient in August 2018.

Busselton Health Campus had nine patients on surgery wait lists longer than the recommended period in August last year.

By July this year the hospital had five patients waiting longer than the recommended period.