Half of elective surgery patients at the Northern Hospital are waiting more than 72 days for their operations, new state government data reveals.
The Victorian Health Services Performance Report for the March quarter shows that the median treatment time for elective surgery at the hospital has increased 26 days, from a 46-day wait in March 2015.
The waiting time is above the state average of 34 days for the March 2016 quarter.
The hospital also recorded increases in waiting times for ear, nose and throat surgery, general surgery and orthopedic surgery.
The report shows that the number of patients on the elective surgery waiting list increased from 1999 in March 2015 to 2289 in March this year.
A spokeswoman for Northern Health said a $17.3 million expansion of the elective surgery centre at Broadmeadows Health Service would help reduce waiting times at the hospital.
It is anticipated that the centre will help ensure 2500 people receive surgery in a timely manner. The hospital also recorded an increase in demand for emergency services in the 12 months to March, with 21,556 people attending its emergency department, up from 19,560.
However, median treatment times in the emergency department decreased from 22 minutes in March 2015, to 18 minutes in March this year.
The spokeswoman said Northern Health was forming partnerships with other health services, including the Kilmore and District Hospital and Austin Health, to manage regional demand on health services.
“Northern Health provides health care to a culturally diverse and rapidly growing community. Our primary and secondary catchment encompasses over 555,000 people, which is expected to grow by an additional 86,000 people over the next five years,” she said.
“Northern Health is developing a range of programs and services to improve the quality and responsiveness of our services, including within the emergency department.
“This includes establishing a new observation and assessment unit within the Northern Hospital.”
