Blitz on hospital waiting lists pays off

Since a boost of $600 million to both federal and state governments earlier this year, almost 14,000 additional patients have received elective surgery in the first six months of the Rudd government's blitz on lengthy public hospital waiting lists.

The figures released at the Australian Health Ministers Conference yesterday explain how the money was used to reduce the number of people waiting longer for surgery than clinically recommended.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon says the update on how the funding was used shows more than half of the 25,000 cases which had been identified, have now been completed.

Roxon says 55 per cent of the procedures that were committed to were completed, which is excellent work and shows the high levels of professionalism and service that can be delivered with extra resources and assistance and a cooperative partnership with the Commonwealth.

A charter of patient rights, which sets out basic minimum standards for patient care across Australia has also been agreed upon, as well as national standards on cosmetic surgery and the adoption of a national standard for hospital patient identity bands.

The Federal Government has pledged an extra $150 million to improve equipment in public hospitals and reduce waiting lists.

ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher says this includes $6.6 million for three extra operating theatres in the ACT, two at Canberra Hospital and one at Calvary Hospital, which would be up and running by the end of the year.

A draft list was drawn up of 40 health and welfare performance indicators which will be considered during discussions on a new Australian Health Care Agreement that decides Medicare funding for the next three years.

Ms Roxon says a difficult phase of negotiation has now been reached on how incentive payments to states will work when tied in with the performance standards; an agreement is expected to be approved by the Council of Australian Governments by the end of the year.