State lets hospital waiting lists grow

Jessica Benton
State Government has given Barwon Health a green light to make patients wait longer for surgery at Geelong Hospital, according to the opposition.
Opposition health spokesperson Helen Shardey labelled as “disgraceful” the reductions in benchmarks for the length of time patients could wait for semi and non-urgent surgeries.
Ms Shardey said the both benchmarks were below national standards.
“Fancy lowering the benchmarks instead of providing hospitals with beds to ensure they reach national benchmarks – it’s shameful,” she said.
“No wonder our hospitals are in crisis when (Health Minister) Daniel Andrews prefers to lower the bar rather than uphold the standards Victorians deserve.”
Under the new targets, Barwon Health must treat 54 per cent of semi-urgent elective surgery patients within 90 days. Ms Shardey said the national benchmark was treatment of 80 per cent of patients in the same time.
Seventy-five per cent of patients on the non-urgent elective surgery list could wait up to a year under the new agreement compared to the national benchmark of 90 per cent, she said.
A spokesperson for Mr Andrews defended the changes.
“The bar has not been lowered for Geelong or any other hospital,” the spokesperson said.
“Each hospital faces its own local pressures and challenges and this is reflected in the statement of priorities.”
The spokesperson said the Government would “continue to work” with Barwon Health to improve services.
A Barwon Health spokesperson said the targets represented the hospital’s “maximum” performance based on its “limited” number of beds and theatres.
The spokesperson said a Government-funded $4.2 million project would provide a new operating theatre next year.