Waiting times for elective surgery in Australia 1997-98

Provides summary information on the proportion of patients who have waited longer than clinically desirable for elective surgery in public hospitals. The quality of data on elective surgery waiting times has varied markedly in the past; however, for this year, the data provided by the States and Territories are largely comparable. This brief report will therefore be useful for health service administrators, health consumers and others interested in the provision of elective surgery in Australia.