Hopes high that health sector review will tackle hospital waiting lists

The Review of New Zealand’s Health and Disability Sector must consider strategies to tackle the growing problem of hospital waiting lists, says the Private Surgical Hospitals Association.

President of the association, Richard Whitney, says waiting lists continue to grow across all DHBs as our population ages and we face an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.

Overall waiting times for surgery have increased since 2013. Among those waiting for surgery, waiting times are up by 80 days to 304 days.

“Reducing waiting lists would improve the quality of life for thousands of New Zealanders,” he said.

“This should be considered a health sector priority and we are very hopeful the review will address this problem by considering how private hospitals can partner and collaborate with public hospitals to provide the extra capacity that is so desperately needed within the health sector.”

Private hospitals already undertake approximately 50 percent of all elective surgery performed in New Zealand.

“We can partner with government to provide a significant number of additional elective surgeries,” Mr Whitney said.

“Outsourcing this surgical workload would help to meet the large unmet demand while relieving the load on DHBs, enhancing efficiencies and reducing government capital expenditure requirements.”

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