Waiting times for elective surgery

The interactive visualisations on this page allow you to compare data across 37 OECD member countries for waiting times for elective surgery for the following procedures:

  • percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
  • cataract surgery
  • coronary bypass
  • prostatectomy
  • hysterectomy
  • hip replacement (total and partial, including the revision of hip replacement)
  • knee replacement.

Key findings

In 2019 (or based on the latest year of data):

  • The median waiting time from specialist assessment to treatment for coronary bypass, prostatectomy and cataract surgery in Australia were all below the OECD average.
  • The median waiting time for hysterectomy in Australia was above the OECD average, at 61 days from specialist assessment to treatment (OECD average 52 days).

 

This figure compares waiting times for elective surgery across OECD countries in 2019 or nearest year. The median days patients waited from specialist assessment to treatment for hysterectomy was highest in Norway (118 days) and lowest in Hungary (1 day). In Australia, the median wait time was 61 days, this was above the OECD average of 52 days.