Tasmanian hospitals have been forced to cancel a record number of elective surgeries for the fifth consecutive month, with the latest data showing that 338 procedures were called off in August alone.
According to the latest Tasmanian Health Dashboard data, there are currently 8,329 people on the elective surgery waitlist, an increase of 682 from this time last year.
The number of patients admitted for surgery from the waitlist has also decreased by 200 this month.
Labor says the Health Department is facing cuts of at least $600 million over the next four years as part of the state government’s efforts to balance the budget.
“It is unquestionable that budget cuts of this magnitude are inevitably going to impact service delivery and patient care,” Shadow Health Minister Ella Haddad said.
“Cutting ‘backline’ positions and support staff is only going to make it harder for hospitals to deliver elective surgeries and Tasmanians will be forced to wait even longer to receive the treatment they need.”
The government, however, refutes Labor’s claims, arguing that their funding commitment has resulted in record volumes of elective surgeries over the past two years.
A government spokesperson said the waitlist has decreased by more than 4,000 since its peak in early 2021, despite increasing demand.
