WAITING times for elective surgery at the Launceston General Hospital have blown out by 19 days in the past year, according to the latest report into Tasmania's health system. The quarterly report showed a 2.8 per cent rise in people waiting for elective surgery at the LGH as of December 31, compared with the same date the year before. But the figure was dwarfed by a 41.9 per cent surge at the Royal Hobart Hospital, 13.8 per cent lift at the Mersey and 5.8 per cent rise at the North-West Regional. More than 8600 Tasmanians were waiting for elective surgeries across the four hospitals in December, according to the Health and Human Services Department. Blow-outs at all sites came despite the state government's promise to pump an extra $16 million into elective surgeries this financial year. Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the report drove home the fact that the system was broken. "We know that waiting lists are still too long and that's why we committed $76 million in funding for extra surgeries," Mr Ferguson said. "But we've long said that money alone is not enough - that's why we're reforming the health system and changing the way our health system operates." Mr Ferguson said establishing the Mersey as a dedicated elective day surgery centre would help tackle the waiting lists. But opposition health spokeswoman Rebecca White said the waiting times were fuelled by $210 million being ripped from the health system across the forward estimates. "How can the Minister expect our hospitals to perform better without adequate support?" Ms White said. The state's nurses union has warned that elective surgery waiting lists are just the tip of the iceberg. "Thousands of people are waiting to see the specialist to then be referred onto the elective surgery waiting lists," ANMF state secretary Neroli Ellis said. "Reduced budgets have forced the closure of beds and operating suites, resulting in competition for limited acute beds, with increasing pressures from emergency admissions."
WAITING times for elective surgery at the Launceston General Hospital have blown out by 19 days in the past year, according to the latest report into Tasmania's health system.
The quarterly report showed a 2.8 per cent rise in people waiting for elective surgery at the LGH as of December 31, compared with the same date the year before.
But the figure was dwarfed by a 41.9 per cent surge at the Royal Hobart Hospital, 13.8 per cent lift at the Mersey and 5.8 per cent rise at the North-West Regional.
More than 8600 Tasmanians were waiting for elective surgeries across the four hospitals in December, according to the Health and Human Services Department.
Blow-outs at all sites came despite the state government's promise to pump an extra $16 million into elective surgeries this financial year.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the report drove home the fact that the system was broken.
"We know that waiting lists are still too long and that's why we committed $76 million in funding for extra surgeries," Mr Ferguson said.
"But we've long said that money alone is not enough - that's why we're reforming the health system and changing the way our health system operates."
Mr Ferguson said establishing the Mersey as a dedicated elective day surgery centre would help tackle the waiting lists.
But opposition health spokeswoman Rebecca White said the waiting times were fuelled by $210 million being ripped from the health system across the forward estimates.
"How can the Minister expect our hospitals to perform better without adequate support?" Ms White said.
The state's nurses union has warned that elective surgery waiting lists are just the tip of the iceberg.
"Thousands of people are waiting to see the specialist to then be referred onto the elective surgery waiting lists," ANMF state secretary Neroli Ellis said.
"Reduced budgets have forced the closure of beds and operating suites, resulting in competition for limited acute beds, with increasing pressures from emergency admissions."
