More Procedures Now Being Offered As Day Surgery

Fourteen new procedures are now being conducted as day surgery, which will improve surgery wait times, unlock hospital beds, and allow patients to safely recover from the comfort of their homes.

The new procedures being targeted for completion as day surgery are across ear, nose and throat, orthopaedics, breast, endocrine and gynaecology:

• Biopsy of lymph nodes
• Removal of bunions
• Arthroscopic knee ligament repairs
• Sublingual gland excision (removal of gland under the tongue)
• Elective appendectomy (elective removal of the appendix)
• Haemorrhoidectomy (removal of haemorrhoids)
• Rotator cuff repair
• Menisectomy excision, repair, trimming (excision, repair, trimming of the knee meniscus)
• Pilonidal sinus excision (repair of cyst or cavity on the tailbone)
• Parathyroidectomy (removal of the parathyroid gland)
• Laparoscopic oophorectomy and salpingectomy, including bilateral (removal of fallopian tubes and ovaries via keyhole surgery)
• Colporrhaphy (repair of vaginal walls)
• Myomectomy, including laparoscopically (50%) and hysteroscopic (removal of fibroids in the uterus via keyhole surgery)
• Therapeutic laparoscopic procedures including laser, diathermy and destruction e.g. endometriosis, adhesiolysis

It brings the total number of low-complexity procedures being targeted to be safely performed without an overnight stay to 22, following the initial introduction of eight procedures in 2024-25:

• hernia procedures
• tonsillectomies & adenoidectomies
• gallbladder removals
• nasal procedures
• sinus and complex middle ear procedures
• mastectomies
• thyroid interventions
• hysterectomies (for non-cancer reasons)

This created capacity for an additional 3,000 patients to be treated in the 2024-25 financial year and 3,200 patients in 2025-26.

Same day surgery sees patients arrive, have their procedure and complete their discharge on the same day, where clinically appropriate, avoiding unnecessary hospitalisation.

The program benefits the patients who recover with support in the comfort of their own home, and relieves pressure on the healthcare system, as staff and additional beds are available for more people.

The Minns Labor Government has made significant investments to improve access to surgeries, including:

• $30 million to expand High Volume Short Stay surgical services
• $200 million since 2024 to reduce overdue surgeries
• The establishment of the state’s first Surgery Hub at Northern Beaches Hospital

The 2026-27 NSW Budget also included $10.3 billion to support increased capacity across the health system, including to deliver an estimated 2,900 additional planned surgeries.

More information on same day surgery in NSW can be found here:

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Performance/Pages/sameday.aspx

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We are delivering more surgeries, more quickly and unlocking much needed capacity in our system to ensure more patients have access to the care they need, when they need it.

“We are already seeing how the same day surgery program is benefiting patients and the broader health system, and that is why we are expanding it.

“By safely discharging people to recover at home with the support they need, we’re creating capacity for someone else who needs that bed, whether that’s admitting someone more quickly from ED or the surgical waitlist.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Strathfield, Jason Yat-Sen Li:

“We welcome this program delivering faster access to surgery for families in Strathfield. Same day surgery means our local patients can get the care they need sooner, recover comfortably at home and free up vital hospital beds for others. It’s a practical, patient centred change that will make a real difference for our community. I thank the clinicians and staff making it possible.”

Quotes attributable to Labor candidate for Drummoyne, Julia Little:

“The Minns Government is investing in more beds, more staff and more surgery services across the state to reduce wait times and improve access for patients.

“The same day surgery program is just another way we’re optimising healthcare and doing it safely so people in NSW can access the care they need faster and more comfortably.”