Elective surgery waiting times 2017–18

Waiting list statistics for intended surgical procedures (indicator procedure) can indicate performance in particular areas of elective surgery provision.

For time series, the 15 indicator procedures are presented, including the 2016–17 and 2017–18 data, based on the Intended procedure data element. There is also an ‘other’ category, which contains data for procedures not included in the 15 indicator procedure categories.

For caveat information for these data see Table 4.6, 4.7 and S4.2. Available to download from the data section of this report.

Changes over time

Between 2013–14 and 2017–18:

• Coronary artery bypass graft surgery consistently had the lowest time within which 50% of patients were admitted (17 days), time within which 90% of patients were admitted (82 days) and proportion of patients who waited over 365 days for surgery
• Myringoplasty/tympanoplasty had the highest time within which 90% of patients were admitted and proportion of patients who waited over 365 days for surgery (383 days and 14.0% respectively)
• Septoplasty consistently had the highest time within which 50% of patients were admitted (ranging between 209 and 248 days).
• the time within which 50% of patients were admitted for Haemorrhoidectomy decreased from 59 days to 48 days, with the remainder of procedures remaining relatively stable
• there were marked increases in the proportions of patients who waited more than 365 days for admission for Septoplasty, Myringoplasty/tympanoplasty, Tonsillectomy, Total knee replacement and Total hip replacement between 2016–17 and 2017–18.

Waiting times in 2017–18

In 2017–18:

• Breast lump excision and/or biopsy had the shortest time within which 50% of patients were admitted, ranging from 13 days in Victoria to 23 days in the Northern Territory, and shortest time within which 90% of patients were admitted across all states and territories, ranging from 38 days in Victoria to 107 days in the Northern Territory
• Septoplasty had the highest time within which 50% of patients were admitted (375 days), ranging from 218 days in the Northern Territory to 596 days in the Australian Capital Territory.

Where to go for more information

Information on the complete list of intended surgical procedures for 2017–18 is available online.

Information on admissions from elective surgery waiting lists by intended surgical procedure are available in the Elective surgery activity: Intended surgical procedure section.

Information on data limitations and methods is available in Appendix A and Appendix B.