Tuesday, 5 March 2024

Northern Victoria Region

Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:54): (707) My question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister please explain why patients in regional Victoria are waiting many months for surgery without any indication of when their operations may take place? Last November my constituent Robert was referred to the specialist clinics at the Bendigo Health Care Group for some general surgery. On 8 December he was notified that his case had been reviewed and he had been placed on a waiting list. He was told the wait could be up to 12 months or in some cases even longer. His condition is not life-threatening at the moment, but he is in a great deal of discomfort and would like some clarity as to when his surgery may take place. He has rung the clinic a couple of times only to be told that he is on the waiting list and it may take some time. He believes by inference that he could be waiting for two to three years, and he is understandably sceptical. Some years ago his doctor referred him for another operation. It was recommended to be completed within 12 months; he waited 18 months for surgery. I ask the minister to explain why the waiting list is so long, and why patients cannot receive clarity on when their operations will take place.