Independent Bureau of Health Information released today confirms that Wollongong Hospital is under enormous pressure and it is just getting worse.
Elective surgery waiting times are at a record high seeing a 7.3 per cent increase and in most cases patients are waiting almost a year for treatment for a range of surgeries including total knee replacements, total hip replacements, tonsillectomy and septoplasty.
Patients are also waiting longer when presenting to Wollongong Hospital’s Emergency Department.
Wollongong Hospital’s waiting times at the Emergency Department have blown out with 42.9 per cent of patients spending more than four hours waiting for treatment.
This is the worst performance since 2013 when 43.7 per cent of patients waited longer than four hours for treatment in emergency.
The damning statistics confirm that Wollongong Hospital must be the focus of a comprehensive independent review into the Illawarra’s health needs and funding requirements.
NSW Labor announced a range of additional investments in Wollongong Hospital on 20 February 2019, which included upgrades to the maternity unit, children’s ward and funding for the Illawarra health review to be commenced within 100 days of the March election.
The review to be undertaken by an independent expert would focus on:
- Elective surgery procedures
- Emergency department presentations
- Need or specialist services including paediatric and cardiothoracic procedures
- Adequacy of medical, ancillary and other staff
- Resourcing and funding
- Infrastructure – both surgical and non-surgical
- Dental treatment
- Management capability and
- Workplace cultural issues to address bullying and harassment.
Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:
“Today’s Independent Bureau of Health Information statistics just confirm that the extraordinary pressure on Wollongong Hospital’s doctors and nurses is just getting worse and worse.
“While they are trying to make us better, a lack of funding is tying them up in knots as waiting lists for elective surgery and emergency treatment just keep blowing out.
“NSW Labor will order an immediate, independent comprehensive review into the Illawarra’s health needs and funding within 100 days of the March election so we can start providing doctors and nurses with the resources they need to treat patients at Wollongong Hospital.
“The Berejiklian Government simply has the wrong priorities.
“The NSW Liberals would rather splurge money on knocking over Sydney stadiums than investing in our hospitals and schools.”
