Coalition to end ‘secret waiting lists’

SECRET waiting lists will be abolished and the full extent of the time it takes for Victorians to receive their operations made public if the Coalition wins this weekend’s election.

The Liberal Nationals will today unveil plans to increase transparency in the state’s health system, including listing elective surgery wait times from the moment a patient is referred for surgery by a GP.

Results of the annual public service People Matter Survey will also be published under the policy, revealing workplace culture, bullying, quality and safety.

An analysis of the latest survey shows up to a quarter of workers at some of Victoria’s biggest hospitals would not recommend their workplace to a loved one needing treatment.

Victoria’s hospitals are currently only required to publish waiting times from the date a specialist lists a patient for an operation to the time they go under the knife.

However, most patients spend months or even years waiting to be listed for surgery during a period commonly described as a ‘secret waiting list’.

Coalition health spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge said their Referral to Treatment policy would give patients a genuine time frame from the day they gain a GP referral to when they receive their active treatment.

“Victorians deserve to know the truth about waiting times to access the treatment they rely on for their health and wellbeing,” she said.

“Long wait times are concerning for a patient, but being left in limbo and not knowing when you will get treatment at all is worse.”

A Coalition analysis of the 2018 People Matter Survey reveals many health workers do not have faith in their hospital’s ability to handle patient care errors or concerns for their safety.

At Northern Health only 57 per cent of workers said they would recommend a friend or relative be treated as a patient in their hospital.

At some of the state’s other large hospitals – Ballarat, Western Health, Monash, Eastern Health and Bendigo - between 23 and 28 per cent of staff said they would not recommend a loved one attend as a patient.

Results of the state government’s 2018 People Matter survey largely reflect ongoing concerns among hospital staff which have been detected in previous years.

“Shining a light on hospital performance and culture will help patients get more effective and timely care and requires hospital leaders to make sure that occurs,” Ms Wooldridge said.