Australian Surgeons told to go slow on elective surgeries!!!

Doctors claim staff at some Perth Hospitals are being told to go slow on elective surgeries because their budgets are running low.

The Australian Medical Association WA, said it has reports of at least one hospital instructing surgeons to limit the number of patients they booked for elective surgeries because administration are running out of money for t his financial year.

Health Minister Kim Hames said, that he was unware of any hospitals giving such directive issues. The AMA President Dave Mountain, said he was concerned about hospitals under pressure to limit the amount of surgeries carried out. He further said that we have reports of hospitals going at half pace because money was running out.

The claims coincide with the release of January's waiting list figures which show a number of patients rising to 16,689 which rose to a 3 year record high in the previous month. A quarter of cateogory 1 patients considered to be the most urgernt had a 60 day waiting period.

Shadow Health Minister Roger Cook said that the figures were at odd with the Goverments claim to ensure that West Australian Patients were being seen within this record time of 60 days.

There are some people on the waiting list and the situation is worsening. He was disappointed with this January's total and further said surgeons who were being told to slow down should contact him.



~ The West Australian Newspaper.




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