Newly sworn-in Premier Chris Minns,alongside Health Minister Ryan Park,has directed the health department to set up Labor’s promised Surgical Care Taskforce to tackle the 100,000-person waitlist for elective surgery.
Making the announcement at western Sydney’s Liverpool Hospital,Minns said 17,000 people on that list were waiting longer than clinically recommended.
“The list includes 4000 children,” Minns said. “Of course,it’s an urgent priority for this incoming government.”
The taskforce would identify policies and initiatives that speed up wait times,particularly for people who are waiting longer than clinically recommended.
Park said the taskforce would report back to him in three months’ time and wants language around non-urgent surgery to change.
Here’s what he said:
Everyone knows that COVID put a big dent into the ability for people to access surgery. And from now on,I’m going to start calling it planned surgery.
You’ll note that in opposition,I didn’t like the term elective surgery. It sounded like people had a choice.
This is surgery that they need to reduce the pain and suffering that they’ve experienced. It’s also surgery that can allow them to go back to work,that allow them to be an active member of the community.
It’s important to me and language is important. And I want to make sure that change,we all adopt.