Summary

Waiting times for elective surgery were reported for 259 of Australia’s public hospitals in 2016–17. This report presents information on elective surgery waiting times for these public hospitals for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, as well as comparative information for the previous 4 reporting periods.

For the first time, it includes waiting times information for a much wider range of surgical procedures than previously available—including arthroscopies, removal of skin lesions, removal or biopsy of breast lumps and carpal tunnel release surgery.

Further information on elective surgery waiting times, including comparisons for public and private health insurance patients, will be published in early 2018 when the information is available to the AIHW.

How much elective surgery was provided?

In 2016–17:

  • Australia’s public hospitals admitted about 748,000 patients from elective surgery waiting lists (as either elective or emergency admissions)
  • the most common surgical specialties were General surgery (surgery on abdominal organs, including endocrine surgery and breast surgery) and Orthopaedic surgery (surgery on bones, joints, ligaments and tendons, including knee and hip replacements), which accounted for 22% (163,000 admissions) and 15% (113,000) of admissions from waiting lists, respectively
  • the most common intended surgical procedure for admissions from public hospital elective surgery waiting lists was Cataract extraction (71,000 admissions).

Between 2012–13 and 2016–17:

  • additions to public hospital elective surgery waiting lists (patients placed on a waiting list) increased by 3.2% on average each year. After adjusting for the number of hospitals included, it is estimated that additions would have increased by about 2.9% on average each year
  • admissions from public hospital elective surgery waiting lists (patients admitted to hospital for the awaited surgery) increased by 2.8% on average each year. After adjusting for the number of hospitals included, it is estimated that admissions would have increased by about 2.0% each year
  • admissions per 1,000 population increased by 1.2% on average each year. After adjusting for the number of hospitals included, it is estimated that admissions per 1,000 population would have increased by about 0.9% each year
  • there were relatively large annual average increases in admissions for Cystoscopy (5.0% per year) and Total hip replacement (4.4% per year). Over the same period, admissions for Varicose veins treatment decreased by 2.6% on average each year.