Dandenong patients continue to wait under Daniel Andrews

Shadow Minister for Health, Mary Wooldridge

New health performance data reveals that patients in Dandenong are waiting longer in emergency departments and on elective surgery waiting lists since Daniel Andrews came to Government.
Emergency Department
The proportion of patients being treated in appropriate times at the Dandenong Hospital emergency department has dramatically deteriorated since Daniel Andrews came into office with almost 4,000 patients, that’s 24%, not receiving emergency treatment within the clinically recommended timeframe, in the last quarter alone.
In addition, patients are waiting longer to be transferred from the ambulance to the emergency department upon arrival at Dandenong hospital, with just 85% of patients being transferred within 40 minutes – 11.5% fewer patients than when Daniel Andrews first came into government.
Elective Surgery
The median wait time for category 2 patients being admitted for surgery has blown out by 23 days, and only 70% of Category 2 patients being admitted for surgery within the recommended timeframe.
The number of patients being admitted from the elective surgery waiting list has deteriorated under Daniel Andrews’ leadership, with 162 fewer patients being admitted for surgery last quarter, compared to December 2014.
Specialist Wait Clinics
Patients being referred to specialists can wait more than 8 months for a consultation, with wait times for some Monash Health patients over:
• 242 days for Plastic Surgery
• 242 days for Gynaecology
• 240 days for Neurosurgery
• 220 days for General Medicine
• 214 days for Oncology
• 159 days for Ear, Nose and Throat

Ambulance
Response times for the most urgent Code 1 (lights and sirens) emergencies in the City of Greater Dandenong have declined under Daniel Andrews.

Comments from Shadow Minister for Health Mary Wooldridge:
“Before the election Daniel Andrews claimed the health system was in crisis and that he would fix it, but the reality is quite the opposite.”
“In Dandenong patients are waiting longer for treatment in the emergency department and for their elective surgery since Daniel Andrews became Premier.”
“The government knows that ‘seconds save lives’, so Daniel Andrews must explain why critical ambulance performance in Dandenong has deteriorated under his watch.”
“Daniel Andrews is breaking promises and neglecting the health needs of families in Dandenong.”

Media contact: James Duncan    0457 758 018           james.duncan@opposition.vic.gov.au