Waiting lists slammed

By Rebecca Fraser
DANDENONG Hospitals elective surgery waiting times have blown out by a “staggering” 90 per cent, according to Victoria’s state opposition.
This week opposition health spokesperson David Davis said there were 1365 more people waiting in 2005 for elective surgery at Dandenong Hospital compared to 2875 people on the waiting list in 1999.
“Steve Bracks and his health minister, Bronwyn Pike, have particularly neglected communities on the edge of Melbourne and in middle suburbs,” Mr Davis said.
“People in suburbs such as Dandenong and Sunshine have been the main targets of the Bracks Government’s broken promise.
“Steve Bracks has failed to reduce hospital waiting lists and he must stand up and be accountable for broken promises.”
Patient access and demand director with Southern Health Lesley Dwyer said the Greater Dandenong area was one of the fastest growing regions in metropolitan Melbourne.
“This growth has been recognised by the Department of Human Services and reduction of the waiting list at Dandenong Hospital is one of the key initiatives of the Department, with inroads expected to be made into the waiting list within the next 12 months to two years,” Ms Dwyer said.
Since June, Dandenong Hospital’s elective surgery waiting list has been significantly reduced.
By the end of September, the hospital’s elective surgery waiting list was 2425. This figure is expected to drop to about 1600 by the end of this year, with a strong focus on treating orthopaedic and plastic surgery patients.
“Reaching this figure will mean the hospital will not only to meet, but exceed, its waiting list target, as determined by the Department of Human Services,” Ms Dwyer said.
She said another signifcant factor that would help reduce waiting lists had been the development of Casey Hospital, which opened its doors just over a year ago.
“As of this financial year, Casey Hospital was running at full surgical capacity, the full effect of which is expected to be felt in the next year, with elective surgery waiting lists reduced even further,” she said.