Extra cash needed to solve spiralling surgery crisis

The Advertiser11-06-2025

Only a continued funding boost can halt a growing crisis in public hospitals, as more patients wait longer for elective surgeries, officials concede.
The waitlist in NSW has grown to more than 100,000 people, just shy of the all-time peak that was reached after widespread cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crucially, those waiting longer than critically recommended for a surgery jumped a whopping 151 per cent over the year to 8857.
A "concerned" Health Minister Ryan Park responded to the latest quarterly performance report from the NSW Bureau of Health Information on Wednesday by announcing a $23 million injection to facilitate 3500 extra surgeries.
But he said similar investments that employ more staff, fund medical supplies and allow surgeries to be shifted to private hospitals would be needed.
"We need investment to be consistent (so) local health districts can predict, can allocate the funds and get those surgeries done as quickly as possible," the minister said.
The waitlist grew seven per cent from a year earlier despite 3.6 per cent more surgeries taking place in the March quarter, compared to the same quarter last year.
Reducing the waitlist after the pandemic only occurred with major extra resources, general surgeon and Australian Medical Association NSW vice president Fred Betros said.
"That's just not sustainable under the current resourcing that we have," the surgeon told AAP.
Overdue surgeries were 14,000 when Labor was elected in 2023 and dipped as low as 1850 nine months ago.
Opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane labelled the government's additional spend "like putting a band-aid on a broken arm".
"It's not going to fix the problem ... and behind every one of those numbers is a patient that is sick, that is in pain or waiting for diagnosis," she told 2GB.
Wait times are also blowing out, reaching 65 days for semi-urgent surgeries and 322 days for non-urgent procedures.
Reality could be even worse than the quarterly figures suggest, with reports alleging major NSW public hospitals have manipulated surgery wait data to hit key performance indicators.
Clinicians were often asked to class surgeries as less serious than they were to provide the hospital more time, Dr Betros told AAP.
"The people that make these requests are often the meat in the sandwich, with pressure coming from above to meet KPIs, and pressure from doctors coming from below who won't recategorise," he said.
The AMA said better funding of public hospitals, improved work conditions and specialist positions and a focus on preventative measures, including a sugar tax, would improve the health system.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association, which has been in pay talks with the government for more than a year, said the upcoming state budget must help hospital workers get a wage boost.
"Our public hospitals are struggling to cope with the population demands and we are yet to see meaningful efforts by the government to address the ongoing recruitment and retention issues," assistant general secretary Michael Whaites said.
Only a continued funding boost can halt a growing crisis in public hospitals, as more patients wait longer for elective surgeries, officials concede.
The waitlist in NSW has grown to more than 100,000 people, just shy of the all-time peak that was reached after widespread cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crucially, those waiting longer than critically recommended for a surgery jumped a whopping 151 per cent over the year to 8857.
A "concerned" Health Minister Ryan Park responded to the latest quarterly performance report from the NSW Bureau of Health Information on Wednesday by announcing a $23 million injection to facilitate 3500 extra surgeries.
But he said similar investments that employ more staff, fund medical supplies and allow surgeries to be shifted to private hospitals would be needed.
"We need investment to be consistent (so) local health districts can predict, can allocate the funds and get those surgeries done as quickly as possible," the minister said.
The waitlist grew seven per cent from a year earlier despite 3.6 per cent more surgeries taking place in the March quarter, compared to the same quarter last year.
Reducing the waitlist after the pandemic only occurred with major extra resources, general surgeon and Australian Medical Association NSW vice president Fred Betros said.
"That's just not sustainable under the current resourcing that we have," the surgeon told AAP.
Overdue surgeries were 14,000 when Labor was elected in 2023 and dipped as low as 1850 nine months ago.
Opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane labelled the government's additional spend "like putting a band-aid on a broken arm".
"It's not going to fix the problem ... and behind every one of those numbers is a patient that is sick, that is in pain or waiting for diagnosis," she told 2GB.
Wait times are also blowing out, reaching 65 days for semi-urgent surgeries and 322 days for non-urgent procedures.
Reality could be even worse than the quarterly figures suggest, with reports alleging major NSW public hospitals have manipulated surgery wait data to hit key performance indicators.
Clinicians were often asked to class surgeries as less serious than they were to provide the hospital more time, Dr Betros told AAP.
"The people that make these requests are often the meat in the sandwich, with pressure coming from above to meet KPIs, and pressure from doctors coming from below who won't recategorise," he said.
The AMA said better funding of public hospitals, improved work conditions and specialist positions and a focus on preventative measures, including a sugar tax, would improve the health system.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association, which has been in pay talks with the government for more than a year, said the upcoming state budget must help hospital workers get a wage boost.
"Our public hospitals are struggling to cope with the population demands and we are yet to see meaningful efforts by the government to address the ongoing recruitment and retention issues," assistant general secretary Michael Whaites said.
Only a continued funding boost can halt a growing crisis in public hospitals, as more patients wait longer for elective surgeries, officials concede.
The waitlist in NSW has grown to more than 100,000 people, just shy of the all-time peak that was reached after widespread cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crucially, those waiting longer than critically recommended for a surgery jumped a whopping 151 per cent over the year to 8857.
A "concerned" Health Minister Ryan Park responded to the latest quarterly performance report from the NSW Bureau of Health Information on Wednesday by announcing a $23 million injection to facilitate 3500 extra surgeries.
But he said similar investments that employ more staff, fund medical supplies and allow surgeries to be shifted to private hospitals would be needed.
"We need investment to be consistent (so) local health districts can predict, can allocate the funds and get those surgeries done as quickly as possible," the minister said.
The waitlist grew seven per cent from a year earlier despite 3.6 per cent more surgeries taking place in the March quarter, compared to the same quarter last year.
Reducing the waitlist after the pandemic only occurred with major extra resources, general surgeon and Australian Medical Association NSW vice president Fred Betros said.
"That's just not sustainable under the current resourcing that we have," the surgeon told AAP.
Overdue surgeries were 14,000 when Labor was elected in 2023 and dipped as low as 1850 nine months ago.
Opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane labelled the government's additional spend "like putting a band-aid on a broken arm".
"It's not going to fix the problem ... and behind every one of those numbers is a patient that is sick, that is in pain or waiting for diagnosis," she told 2GB.
Wait times are also blowing out, reaching 65 days for semi-urgent surgeries and 322 days for non-urgent procedures.
Reality could be even worse than the quarterly figures suggest, with reports alleging major NSW public hospitals have manipulated surgery wait data to hit key performance indicators.
Clinicians were often asked to class surgeries as less serious than they were to provide the hospital more time, Dr Betros told AAP.
"The people that make these requests are often the meat in the sandwich, with pressure coming from above to meet KPIs, and pressure from doctors coming from below who won't recategorise," he said.
The AMA said better funding of public hospitals, improved work conditions and specialist positions and a focus on preventative measures, including a sugar tax, would improve the health system.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association, which has been in pay talks with the government for more than a year, said the upcoming state budget must help hospital workers get a wage boost.
"Our public hospitals are struggling to cope with the population demands and we are yet to see meaningful efforts by the government to address the ongoing recruitment and retention issues," assistant general secretary Michael Whaites said.
Only a continued funding boost can halt a growing crisis in public hospitals, as more patients wait longer for elective surgeries, officials concede.
The waitlist in NSW has grown to more than 100,000 people, just shy of the all-time peak that was reached after widespread cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crucially, those waiting longer than critically recommended for a surgery jumped a whopping 151 per cent over the year to 8857.
A "concerned" Health Minister Ryan Park responded to the latest quarterly performance report from the NSW Bureau of Health Information on Wednesday by announcing a $23 million injection to facilitate 3500 extra surgeries.
But he said similar investments that employ more staff, fund medical supplies and allow surgeries to be shifted to private hospitals would be needed.
"We need investment to be consistent (so) local health districts can predict, can allocate the funds and get those surgeries done as quickly as possible," the minister said.
The waitlist grew seven per cent from a year earlier despite 3.6 per cent more surgeries taking place in the March quarter, compared to the same quarter last year.
Reducing the waitlist after the pandemic only occurred with major extra resources, general surgeon and Australian Medical Association NSW vice president Fred Betros said.
"That's just not sustainable under the current resourcing that we have," the surgeon told AAP.
Overdue surgeries were 14,000 when Labor was elected in 2023 and dipped as low as 1850 nine months ago.
Opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane labelled the government's additional spend "like putting a band-aid on a broken arm".
"It's not going to fix the problem ... and behind every one of those numbers is a patient that is sick, that is in pain or waiting for diagnosis," she told 2GB.
Wait times are also blowing out, reaching 65 days for semi-urgent surgeries and 322 days for non-urgent procedures.
Reality could be even worse than the quarterly figures suggest, with reports alleging major NSW public hospitals have manipulated surgery wait data to hit key performance indicators.
Clinicians were often asked to class surgeries as less serious than they were to provide the hospital more time, Dr Betros told AAP.
"The people that make these requests are often the meat in the sandwich, with pressure coming from above to meet KPIs, and pressure from doctors coming from below who won't recategorise," he said.
The AMA said better funding of public hospitals, improved work conditions and specialist positions and a focus on preventative measures, including a sugar tax, would improve the health system.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association, which has been in pay talks with the government for more than a year, said the upcoming state budget must help hospital workers get a wage boost.
"Our public hospitals are struggling to cope with the population demands and we are yet to see meaningful efforts by the government to address the ongoing recruitment and retention issues," assistant general secretary Michael Whaites said.

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Sexual harassment and violence training for bar staff

The Advertiser

20 hours ago

The Advertiser

Sexual harassment and violence training for bar staff

Making venues safer for workers and patrons alike is part of efforts to reinvigorate a major city's ailing nightlife with mandates for venue staff to undergo training around sexual harassment and violence prevention. Training provided as part of Responsible Service of Alcohol accreditations follow several recent scandals engulfing major players in Sydney's hospitality industry and re-evaluation of its hard-partying reputation. The changes ensure workers are better equipped to care for customers and colleagues with ambitions to make the state a global gold-standard for nightlife and entertainment, NSW Night-Time Economy Minister John Graham said. "That only happens if our venues are safe, welcoming and respectful for everyone who walks through the door. "The updated RSA training course gives hospitality staff real-world tools and guidance needed to step in, defuse trouble and assist their patrons when it counts." RSA training - mandatory for anyone who sells, serves or supplies liquor - will have updated materials to give workers a clearer understanding of the law, including differences between sexual harassment and sexual assault. Another recent revision updated guidance on drink spiking. Staff will also be trained in how to respond when patrons report harassment, violence, and suspected drink spiking, including on how to connect them with support services. Training for licensees has been updated to reflect employer obligations to prevent workplace sexual harassment. "It's important for us to engage with people where they live, learn, work, socialise and play, including the hospitality sector," Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison said. "This training is one example of the work underway to change the beliefs and cultures that tolerate or condone violence." The state's Women's Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin said the changes are an important step to making spaces safer and more respectful. "Everyone should feel confident that they'll be safe when they're socialising or working in a bar, club, restaurant or pub." Sydney's after-dark economy was damaged by restrictive and since-repealed lockout laws beginning in 2013 following violent one-punch deaths in nightlife precincts. The COVID-19 pandemic also severely impacted the hospitality sector, and changing residential demographics in some areas prompted noise and other complaints affecting venues. The state has established special entertainment precincts with extended trading hours and looser noise controls as part of "vibrancy reforms". People buying property in some areas will have to acknowledge the potential for noise in a bid to limit conflict between established venues and new neighbours. Enmore Road in the city's inner west was the first area declared a special entertainment precinct with the council considering additional areas. Further west, Burwood and Fairfield councils have received grants to begin a trial of precincts by the end of 2025. A regional trial is also planned in Byron Bay in the state's north. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Making venues safer for workers and patrons alike is part of efforts to reinvigorate a major city's ailing nightlife with mandates for venue staff to undergo training around sexual harassment and violence prevention. Training provided as part of Responsible Service of Alcohol accreditations follow several recent scandals engulfing major players in Sydney's hospitality industry and re-evaluation of its hard-partying reputation. The changes ensure workers are better equipped to care for customers and colleagues with ambitions to make the state a global gold-standard for nightlife and entertainment, NSW Night-Time Economy Minister John Graham said. "That only happens if our venues are safe, welcoming and respectful for everyone who walks through the door. "The updated RSA training course gives hospitality staff real-world tools and guidance needed to step in, defuse trouble and assist their patrons when it counts." RSA training - mandatory for anyone who sells, serves or supplies liquor - will have updated materials to give workers a clearer understanding of the law, including differences between sexual harassment and sexual assault. Another recent revision updated guidance on drink spiking. Staff will also be trained in how to respond when patrons report harassment, violence, and suspected drink spiking, including on how to connect them with support services. Training for licensees has been updated to reflect employer obligations to prevent workplace sexual harassment. "It's important for us to engage with people where they live, learn, work, socialise and play, including the hospitality sector," Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison said. "This training is one example of the work underway to change the beliefs and cultures that tolerate or condone violence." The state's Women's Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin said the changes are an important step to making spaces safer and more respectful. "Everyone should feel confident that they'll be safe when they're socialising or working in a bar, club, restaurant or pub." Sydney's after-dark economy was damaged by restrictive and since-repealed lockout laws beginning in 2013 following violent one-punch deaths in nightlife precincts. The COVID-19 pandemic also severely impacted the hospitality sector, and changing residential demographics in some areas prompted noise and other complaints affecting venues. The state has established special entertainment precincts with extended trading hours and looser noise controls as part of "vibrancy reforms". People buying property in some areas will have to acknowledge the potential for noise in a bid to limit conflict between established venues and new neighbours. Enmore Road in the city's inner west was the first area declared a special entertainment precinct with the council considering additional areas. Further west, Burwood and Fairfield councils have received grants to begin a trial of precincts by the end of 2025. A regional trial is also planned in Byron Bay in the state's north. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Making venues safer for workers and patrons alike is part of efforts to reinvigorate a major city's ailing nightlife with mandates for venue staff to undergo training around sexual harassment and violence prevention. Training provided as part of Responsible Service of Alcohol accreditations follow several recent scandals engulfing major players in Sydney's hospitality industry and re-evaluation of its hard-partying reputation. The changes ensure workers are better equipped to care for customers and colleagues with ambitions to make the state a global gold-standard for nightlife and entertainment, NSW Night-Time Economy Minister John Graham said. "That only happens if our venues are safe, welcoming and respectful for everyone who walks through the door. "The updated RSA training course gives hospitality staff real-world tools and guidance needed to step in, defuse trouble and assist their patrons when it counts." RSA training - mandatory for anyone who sells, serves or supplies liquor - will have updated materials to give workers a clearer understanding of the law, including differences between sexual harassment and sexual assault. Another recent revision updated guidance on drink spiking. Staff will also be trained in how to respond when patrons report harassment, violence, and suspected drink spiking, including on how to connect them with support services. Training for licensees has been updated to reflect employer obligations to prevent workplace sexual harassment. "It's important for us to engage with people where they live, learn, work, socialise and play, including the hospitality sector," Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison said. "This training is one example of the work underway to change the beliefs and cultures that tolerate or condone violence." The state's Women's Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin said the changes are an important step to making spaces safer and more respectful. "Everyone should feel confident that they'll be safe when they're socialising or working in a bar, club, restaurant or pub." Sydney's after-dark economy was damaged by restrictive and since-repealed lockout laws beginning in 2013 following violent one-punch deaths in nightlife precincts. The COVID-19 pandemic also severely impacted the hospitality sector, and changing residential demographics in some areas prompted noise and other complaints affecting venues. The state has established special entertainment precincts with extended trading hours and looser noise controls as part of "vibrancy reforms". People buying property in some areas will have to acknowledge the potential for noise in a bid to limit conflict between established venues and new neighbours. Enmore Road in the city's inner west was the first area declared a special entertainment precinct with the council considering additional areas. Further west, Burwood and Fairfield councils have received grants to begin a trial of precincts by the end of 2025. A regional trial is also planned in Byron Bay in the state's north. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Making venues safer for workers and patrons alike is part of efforts to reinvigorate a major city's ailing nightlife with mandates for venue staff to undergo training around sexual harassment and violence prevention. Training provided as part of Responsible Service of Alcohol accreditations follow several recent scandals engulfing major players in Sydney's hospitality industry and re-evaluation of its hard-partying reputation. The changes ensure workers are better equipped to care for customers and colleagues with ambitions to make the state a global gold-standard for nightlife and entertainment, NSW Night-Time Economy Minister John Graham said. "That only happens if our venues are safe, welcoming and respectful for everyone who walks through the door. "The updated RSA training course gives hospitality staff real-world tools and guidance needed to step in, defuse trouble and assist their patrons when it counts." RSA training - mandatory for anyone who sells, serves or supplies liquor - will have updated materials to give workers a clearer understanding of the law, including differences between sexual harassment and sexual assault. Another recent revision updated guidance on drink spiking. Staff will also be trained in how to respond when patrons report harassment, violence, and suspected drink spiking, including on how to connect them with support services. Training for licensees has been updated to reflect employer obligations to prevent workplace sexual harassment. "It's important for us to engage with people where they live, learn, work, socialise and play, including the hospitality sector," Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison said. "This training is one example of the work underway to change the beliefs and cultures that tolerate or condone violence." The state's Women's Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin said the changes are an important step to making spaces safer and more respectful. "Everyone should feel confident that they'll be safe when they're socialising or working in a bar, club, restaurant or pub." Sydney's after-dark economy was damaged by restrictive and since-repealed lockout laws beginning in 2013 following violent one-punch deaths in nightlife precincts. The COVID-19 pandemic also severely impacted the hospitality sector, and changing residential demographics in some areas prompted noise and other complaints affecting venues. The state has established special entertainment precincts with extended trading hours and looser noise controls as part of "vibrancy reforms". People buying property in some areas will have to acknowledge the potential for noise in a bid to limit conflict between established venues and new neighbours. Enmore Road in the city's inner west was the first area declared a special entertainment precinct with the council considering additional areas. Further west, Burwood and Fairfield councils have received grants to begin a trial of precincts by the end of 2025. A regional trial is also planned in Byron Bay in the state's north. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028