Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan
Progress to date
Progress to date of the Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan
The latest Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan Progress Report to AHMC is available below. This report is compiled from individual progress reports submitted by all states and territories under the Plan and provides information from the June Quarter 2010.
Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan - September Quarter 2010 (PDF 298 KB)
Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan - September Quarter 2010 (Word 766 KB)
Previous reports
June Quarter 2010
Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan - June Quarter 2010 (PDF 227 KB)
Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan - June Quarter 2010 (RTF 4.3 MB)
March Quarter 2010
Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan - March Quarter 2010 (PDF 211 KB)
December Quarter 2009
Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan - December Quarter 2009 (PDF 205 KB)
September Quarter 2009
Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan - September Quarter 2009 (PDF 179 KB)
June Quarter 2009
Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan - June Quarter 2009 (PDF 177 KB)
January to December 2008
Stage One
The objective of Stage One of the Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan was to reduce the number of patients waiting too long for elective surgery in 2008. On 14 January 2008, the Minister for Health and Ageing announced the funding allocations to be provided to each state and territory under Stage One of the Plan, through a series of media releases. These media releases can be accessed from the Media Centre. By 1 July 2008, all states and territories had received their total allocated funding for Stage One of the Plan. To see how much funding each state and territory received under Stage One, and the number of additional elective surgeries they agreed to complete in 2008, go to About the Plan.
At the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference (AHMC) meeting on 5 March 2009, state and territory Health Ministers reported that all jurisdictions had exceeded their Stage One targets for 2008. In total, 41,584 additional elective surgery patients were treated from January to December 2008, exceeding the national target of 25,278, by 64 percent. The focus on targeting patients waiting longer than clinically recommended may lead to temporary increases in median and 90th percentile waiting times.
| Additional Elective Surgery Procedures completed in 2008 | ||
|---|---|---|
| State/Territory | Target | Additional Procedures |
| NSW | 8,743 | 12,153 |
| Vic | 5,908 | 13,478 |
| Qld | 4,000 | 5,928 |
| WA | 2,720 | 3,727 |
| SA | 2,262 | 3,196 |
| Tas | 895 | 1,606 |
| ACT | 250 | 858 |
| NT | 500 | 638 |
| NATIONAL | 25,278 | 41,584 |
A copy of the 5 March AHMC communiqué can be accessed from the Media Centre.
Stage Two
Under Stage Two of the Plan, $150 million has been provided to make systemic improvements to Australia’s hospital system, with funding being provided in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. To see how much funding each state and territory has been allocated under Stage Two and how the funding will be used, go to About the Plan.
Stage Three
The third and final stage of the Plan was agreed to at the Council of Australian Governments meeting (COAG) on 7 December 2009. The first facilitation payments of $4 million were made to States and Territories on 7 January 2010.
Stage Three will provide up to $300 million to reward those States and Territories which meet specific targets in reducing waiting times and increase the number of surgeries performed. States and Territories will receive their share of Stage Three funding based on their performance in reaching these targets.
A copy of the National Partnership Agreement is available for download:
National Partnership Agreement on the Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan (PDF 233KB)
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