Accuracy of waiting times data
Prior to publication of data, the NSW Department of Health ensures that each doctor has verified their data and has notified us of any problems with the data.
The waiting times listed are derived from historical data provided monthly, and represent a retrospective and aggregated view of the actual time that patients have waited for admission to hospital. The times are not necessarily an accurate predictor of any one person's future wait. The best estimate of current and future waiting times may be obtained by consultation with your specialist or with the hospital.
While care is taken to ensure that the information is both timely and accurate, the NSW Department of Health assumes no liability for inaccuracies. The following processes are in place to help ensure the waiting times data are as accurate as possible.
Area Health Services and Hospitals
- Review waiting time management processes at hospital level to ensure that timely and accurate data are entered into the hospital patient administration system.
- Implement Waiting Time Management - Clerical Audit Guidelines.
- Issue Internet waiting times data to doctors for review.
- Review doctor registration numbers in hospital patient administration systems and correct where necessary.
- Submit copies of doctor tables used by each hospital to the Department for checking.
- Review coding of procedures and correct where necessary.
- Follow up error reports from doctors and the Department, correct the information where needed and resubmit data.
- Provide qualifying information in order to give some context and explanation for the data and to exclude data that cannot be corrected, or irrelevant data.
NSW Department of Health
- Performs edit checks of waiting times data.
- Routinely updates waiting time information on the Department's website and identifies further data anomalies.
- Reviews and follows up anomalies.
- Issues error reports to Area Health Services and hospitals for review, correction and resubmission of data after correction.
- Checks the doctor tables provided by hospitals.