Elective surgery wait times rise by 40% at St George Hospital

Waiting lists for elective surgeries at St George Hospital are skyrocketing under the Minns Labor Government, leaving patients in the dark for months.

According to the BHI January to March Quarterly Report, wait times have almost doubled when compared to last year, with 2,267 patients awaiting surgery.

An additional 483 patients have waited longer than clinically recommended at St George Hospital, an 455% increase from the 87 people last year.

Member for Oatley, Mark Coure, said the data reveals a health system under severe strain and a government failing to meet community expectations.

“St George Hospital is home world-class health infrastructure and the most talented staff in the state. It is a shame that under the Minns Labor Government, our local health outcomes and services are going backwards,” Mr Coure said.

“It is clear that our health system is overstretched and under-resourced, with patients paying the price through unacceptable delays to urgent surgeries. Behind every number is a person and their family waiting needlessly.”

Mr Coure is calling on the Minns Labor Government to urgently invest in additional resources for St George Hospital, including staffing and surgical capacity, to address the growing backlog and ensure timely access to care.

Currently, there are 100,678 patients on the waiting list in New South Wales, up 7.3% from last year and close to the record peak during the COVID-19 pandemic (101,024).

“The Minns Labor Governments’ failings when it comes to our health system are disrupting our community, whilst our frontline workers are forced to carry the burden of a healthcare system under strain.”

“I will keep fighting on behalf of our community to ensure that it gets the healthcare it deserves. It’s time for the Minns Labor Government to stop the spin and start delivering real support for our hospitals.”

ENDS