State, Barwon Health hit back on lists Ted’s figures ‘fudged’

Jessica Benton
STATE Government and Barwon Health have accused the opposition of fudging waiting list figures for Geelong Hospital.
A spokesperson for Health Minister Daniel Andrews said opposition leader Ted Baillieu had demonstrated a “basic misunderstanding” of the health system when he claimed almost 5000 patients were on a “hidden” waiting list in Geelong.
The spokesperson said Mr Baillieu had confused patients’ repeat and follow-up appointments.
“Ted Baillieu is again showing his party’s ignorance of the health system by trying to lump different categories together and creating allegations that are simply not true and which insult the doctors and nurses who make vital decisions about patient welfare,” the spokesperson said.
“The fact he has such a basic misunderstanding of a reporting system that his party instituted when it last governed is a huge blight on his ability to grasp one of the most important portfolios.”
Barwon Health backed the Government against Mr Baillieu.
“Waiting list figures compiled by the opposition don’t present a true reflection of Geelong Hospital’s services and activity,” a Barwon Health spokesperson said.
“For instance, it includes outpatient services not based at Geelong Hospital, such as the McKellar Centre at North Geelong and the Community Rehabilitation Centre at Belmont.”
The spokesperson said patients could appear on a waiting list more than once because they needed to see more than one specialist.
Barwon Health had treated more patients than ever in the previous financial year, the spokesperson said.
Mr Baillieu slammed Barwon Health as “neglectful” after alleging an opposition Freedom of Information application had revealed that 4970 people were waiting to see specialists or secure appointments.
Mr Baillieu said 1840 names were on the list for appointments and 3130 were waiting.
Five Barwon Health patients had been waiting a combined 1700 days for an appointment, the longest since December 2001, he said.
“These hidden waiting lists are a disgrace,” Mr Baillieu said.
“This alarming figure is only the tip of the iceberg. The real pressures Victorian hospitals are under from all areas have been kept secret by the Brumby Government.
“The simply truth is our hospitals are at maximum capacity and cannot cope.”
Mr Baillieu said the fact the figures were not publicly recorded was a concern for Victorians.