More evidence of the pressure on Wollongong Hospital was revealed today with an increase in the elective surgery waiting list, despite more surgeries being conducted.

Statistics from the independent Bureau of Health Information reveals that during the July to September 2018 quarter, the elective surgery waiting list at Wollongong Hospital grew to 2,397 patients – the highest ever recorded by the Bureau.

This is an increase of 5 per cent over the same period last year and a 6.4 per cent increase over the last quarter.

Disturbingly, it is an increase of 50.7 per cent since the current Liberal Government was elected this term in March 2015.

The Bureau’s statistics also reveal a 53 per cent increase in the number of urgent elective surgery cases on the waiting list since the same period last year.

Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:

“Since the NSW Liberals were re-elected in March 2015 more than 800 additional people have been added to the elective surgery waiting list.

“These latest statistics provide even more evidence to show that Wollongong Hospital is under pressure and is not getting the resources it needs.

“The staff at Wollongong Hospital do a great job with the resources they have available to them, often going well beyond what would ordinarily be expected, but they are clearly not getting the support they need from the Berejiklian Government.

“A blow-out in elective surgery waiting lists like this one proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Berejiklian Government should be prioritising investment in our hospitals above splurging $2.2 billion on Sydney stadiums.

“Today I repeat my call for an independent review of resourcing at Wollongong Hospital to examine everything that our hospital might need to cope with current demand for services as well as demand for services into the future.

“The people of Wollongong want a health and hospitals system that can cope with current and future patient demands before they want a couple of flashy new stadiums in Sydney.”