Almost one in three waiting too long for surgery under reset Tasmanian target

In Tasmania, nearly one-third of patients awaiting elective surgery may experience delays exceeding clinically recommended timelines, according to a new Health Department performance target. This revised target, set by the department, allows up to 30% of elective surgery patients to wait longer than advised. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) Tasmania has criticized the lower bar, stating it is insufficient.

The Health Department attributes the change to increased demand, service capacity, and ongoing issues with bed availability due to limited aged care and NDIS placements for Tasmanians. With around 9,500 people on the department's elective surgery waitlist, the department aims for at least 70% of patients to receive treatment within their clinically recommended time frame.

AMA Tasmania president Dr. Meg Creely argues that the target is too low, emphasizing the need for improvement. The health department's spokesperson maintains that the revised target is realistic and evidence-based, reflecting current demand, service capacity, and operating environment challenges. However, the spokesperson did not address a question about the accuracy of the AMA's claim that the previous target had increased from 1.2% to 30%.

In July, 59% of elective surgeries were completed on time, a decline from 64% in the previous year. The health department plans to perform 21,500 elective surgeries in 2026-27, a slight decrease from the previous year.