$30 million to speed up surgeries as Government reduces Liberal backlog

08 October 2025

Patients around the state will benefit from reduced surgery wait times following a one-off $30 million investment in short stay surgery by the Minns Labor Government. 

It comes as the Minns Labor Government continues to reduce the Liberal’s backlog of overdue surgeries, from over 18,000 in June 2022 to 2,534 in June 2025. 

This funding injection will help identify and implement innovative models of care to increase short stay surgical capacity and, where appropriate, prevent avoidable surgery. The changes implemented are expected to have long-term outcomes on surgical services, with the potential for successful innovations to be adopted across other hospitals.​​​


This is expected to improve access to surgery, reduce wait times, save on costs, and enhance patient experience and integration between primary, community and specialist care. 

As part of this funding injection, local health districts and networks were invited to submit proposals to: 

  • Establish or expand high-volume short stay centres to improve people’s access to common, frequently performed surgeries such as tonsil removals and hernia repairs; or 
  • Identify and fund programs that reduce the need for surgical intervention, maximise patient outcomes and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions

High volume short stay surgeries are planned surgeries or procedures which require patients to be admitted for up to 72 hours. 

These surgeries generally include ear, nose and throat surgery, general surgery, gynecology, urology, ophthalmology and orthopedics, and account for more than 80 per cent of all surgery undertaken in NSW public hospitals. 

This additional investment builds on the $23 million already delivered by the Minns Labor Government as part of the 2025-26 Budget and the $186 million provided at the end of 2024 to reduce the number of patients waiting longer than clinically recommended for their planned surgery. 

All applications will be assessed by an expert panel, including some of NSW Health’s leading surgeons and clinicians.  Successful proposals are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park: 

“We have managed to significantly reduce the Liberals’ overdue surgery backlog, but we know we’ve got more to do.  

“This investment will help patients access the surgical care they need more quickly. 

“NSW Health is a national leader in this space, with work already underway to increase access to same-day surgery, reduce the elective surgery waiting list and improve patient outcomes. 

“More investment in health, lower wait times and better patient outcomes, but more to do. It’s as simple as that.