Public hospitals are struggling to keep pace with demand for elective surgeries and emergency department care, with new figures revealing waiting times have blown out in most states and territories.
890,000 patients were added to the public hospital waiting list in 2018-19, but just 760,000 patients were removedThe latest figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show 890,000 patients were added to the public hospital waiting list in 2018-19, a 2 per cent increase on the previous year."These data suggest that, over time, growth in the number of people receiving elective surgery in public hospitals is not keeping up with demand for elective surgery.
Indigenous Australians waited longer, on average, than non-Indigenous people for surgery, with half of all patients seen within 50 days.Like in previous years, where you live still determines how long you wait for surgery.
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