An alarming blow out in elective surgery waiting lists has undermined the Baillieu Government’s claim to have delivered 100 new hospital beds, the State Opposition Leader, Daniel Andrews said today.
Mr Andrews said the latest quarterly Victorian Health Services Performance data reveals an extra 2,664 people have joined the elective surgery hospital waiting lists in Victoria from December to March this year.
“This just proves Victoria’s health system is getting worse, not better, under the Baillieu Government,” Mr Andrews said.
“This data shows the waiting list for elective surgery is getting longer not shorter.
“Victoria’s health system is going backwards under Baillieu.
“In the first three months of this year, an extra 2,664 people were put on elective surgery waiting lists. This includes an additional 145 sick children waiting for surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“Clearly, the Baillieu Government is failing to properly fund Victoria’s hospital system to match growth in demand for health services.”
Mr Andrews said the Baillieu Government promised to fund an additional 800 hospital beds in his first term of government – and to deliver the first 100 beds by the end of this financial year.
“Health Minister, David Davis claims he has delivered the 100 beds but won’t tell us where they are,” he said.
“Mr Baillieu and Mr Davis will soon learn you can’t hoodwink Victorians.
“If Mr Davis could find out what beds were closed during the nurses’ dispute, he can tell us where his new beds are now.
“If he doesn’t, Victorians have every right to question whether these new beds exist.”
Today’s data also shows Victorians are waiting longer to be transferred from emergency department beds and ambulances with the Baillieu Government failing to meet major targets including:
- Emergency department patient transfers within 8 hours; and
- Ambulance patient transfers within 40 mins.
Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Wade Noonan said since the Baillieu Government came to office, elective surgery waiting lists have blown out by 7,746.
“When it comes to delivering better health services, Ted Baillieu and David Davis are failing Victorians,” Mr Noonan said.