Wait times for some of Victora’s most vital health services continue to grow under the Allan Government.
New data released today from the Victorian Agency for Health Information (VAHI) has confirmed across the December 2023 quarter:
- Victoria’s elective surgery wait list remains high with 67,207 patients waiting for treatment.
- The average overdue wait time for Category 3 patients increased to 335 days, compared to 281 days a year ago.
- The median wait time for an ambulance attending life-threatening incidents increased from the previous quarter to 8.97 minutes
- The waiting time for dental specialist appointments increased to 12 months, up from 10 months in the previous quarter.
- The waiting time for general dental care appointments increased to 16.6 months, up from 16.4 months in the previous quarter, and 14.1 months a year earlier.
Furthermore, a number of regional hospitals have seen considerable increases in Category 3 surgery wait times, including at Barwon Health, Bendigo Health, Wangaratta Hospital and West Gippsland Hospital.
Shadow Minister for Health, Georgie Crozier, said: “This data shows ongoing strain on the health system under almost a decade of Labor Government.
“The figures will be distressing to many Victorians who rely on vital health services as many key indicators continue to worsen rather than improve.
“Despite continued claims from the Allan Government that they are fixing the problems plaguing the health system, the data says otherwise and in many areas is actually getting worse.”
