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 March Quarter 2009.

Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan - June Quarter 2009 (PDF 177 KB)

Previous reports are available for download below.
Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan – National Progress Report for the Period January to December 2008. (PDF 144 KB)

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 90^th 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)