26 November 2006

More surgery in public hospitals over the holiday break

More booked (elective) surgery will be conducted over the 2006 / 07 Christmas New Year holiday period than in previous years, NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos announced today.

NSW public hospitals will experience reduced activity for an average of four weeks instead of six weeks - with emergency departments and operating theatres remaining open for urgent surgery during the December/January break.

"Many of our hard working doctors, nurses and other staff deserve a well earned break over the December/January holiday period," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"It's also a time when maintenance is carried out on vital hospital equipment.

"In addition to this, most patients prefer not to be in hospital over the Christmas break - putting off their elective procedures."

Mr Hatzistergos said a new policy for surgical activity will continue booked elective surgery:

• To ensure patients requiring surgery within 30 days are treated appropriately.
• To ensure patients in the non-urgent category are treated within 365 days and do not wait over 12 months as a result of the holiday season's reduced activity.

"This year, we will have more clinical staff returning to work early," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"We want to make sure that long wait and any overdue patients are offered booked surgery during the holiday break.

"We're making real progress in reducing waiting times and waiting lists, but there's still more work to do."

Over the past 12 months, emergency attendances have increased by 7 per cent - the biggest rise during December and January.

"Part of the reason is the lack of General Practitioner services," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"Last year, the biggest increase in hospital attendances was for people with less severe and less urgent complaints - amounting to an additional 18,359 emergency department visits."

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au