Surgery wait list blow-out at Goulburn Valley Health

Goulburn Valley Health chief executive Matt Sharp confirmed he was expecting an increase in the number of patients on the elective surgery waiting list during 2019-20.

“We are operating in a challenging environment at present, with a major factor related to recruiting surgeons and specialist staff to GV Health in order to treat patients,” Mr Sharp said.

“This challenge exists across regional Victoria and GV Health has developed a strategy to attract more doctors, nurses and allied health staff to our health service and we are working hard to implement it.”

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said statewide waiting list numbers were not a good indicator of the time patients waited for treatment.

“Despite strong population growth, the worst flu season on record and savage Federal Government funding cuts, our hospitals are treating more people than ever before and Victorians are waiting less time for elective surgery,” Ms Mikakos said.

The data comes as hospitals across the state will share in $12.2 billion in operational funding in 2019-20.

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