Can the Australian hospital waiting lists for elective surgery be reduced?
Will the waiting lists for surgery here continue to rise like the US debt as the population ages and more surgical options are available?
Unlike the US debt, there is no QE solution…
Problems we face:
1. Increasing population
2. Increasing percentage of patients from elderly age group…people do get sick eventually even with the best of care – such is life…
3. Budget pressures on hospitals leading to inefficient use of theatre times eg some hospitals do not allow cases after 11am or 4pm on morning or afternoon lists in case of theatre overruns; prolonged theatre closures over Easter and Xmas(to reduce hospital costs)
4. Lack of surgical beds….more and more presssure on beds for medical patients, more patients in hospital waiting for nursing home beds
Overall, I am not optimistic… although there are steps that may help.