fbpx
Saturday, October 26, 2024

$40 million pledged to cut WA elective surgery backlog

The WA Government has today announced it will provide $40 million for WA Health to deliver the equivalent of 6,000 additional elective surgeries and procedures, allowing hospitals to continue to make inroads into the elective surgery waitlist.

Premier, Roger Cook says the funding boost will ensure hospitals are well placed to continue reducing elective surgery waiting lists through innovative strategies such as weekend theatre utilisation, twilight procedures, and use of contemporary methods that reduce the time patients need to spend in hospital.

“The $40 million boost will mean thousands more Western Australians can be scheduled for surgery in the next six months,” said Premier Cook.

“There is still a lot of work to do, but with the right funding and reform initiatives we can make sure that WA continues to have the best hospital services in Australia.

“My Government is committed to ensuring equitable access to top quality healthcare no matter where you live.”

Part of the system reform includes extra weekend services and more step-down care options to support older Western Australians transition from hospitals and back into the community.

The WA Government has also delivered an additional 571 beds since the 2021‑22 Budget, the equivalent of a new tertiary hospital and employed additional staff, including more than 1,000 nurses since June last year and medical staff has been increased by more than 600.

The Government says it will also roll out new arrangements from early next year to facilitate better utilisation of private hospital capacity, with a new panel to make it simpler, faster, and more competitive.

Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson
WA Health Minister, Amber-Jade Sanderson.

“I thank all our hard-working healthcare workers who ensure Western Australians can access world class surgery when they need it,” said Health Minister, Amber-Jade Sanderson.

“Our $489.9 million emergency care package to improve access to care and system-wide reform has reduced ramping hours, and enabled beds to be freed up so that we can undertake these additional 6,000 elective surgeries and procedures.

“I commend the health services providers for their efforts in reducing elective surgery waitlists and this investment will enable hospitals to undertake even more surgeries.”

Latest Articles