ELECTIVE SURGERY

62 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (1 June 2010). What is the operational plan for the Elective Surgery Strategy and what initiatives of this plan will be implemented in 2009 and 2010, respectively?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts): I am advised:

The initial Elective Surgery Strategy for South Australia for 2009-10 was to achieve 38,500 elective surgery procedures in Metropolitan hospitals. This target was later revised to include the Commonwealth Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction plan of achieving at least 43,586 elective surgery procedures in Metropolitan hospitals. Metropolitan hospitals undertook 44,557 elective surgery procedures during 2009-10. The operational plan developed and implemented in 2009-10 has focused on the provision of sustainable improvements in patient outcomes through:

establishing sound leadership and governance through the Surgical Services Taskforce

maintaining and improving performance expectations from 2008-09

monitoring timeliness targets in accordance with the national agenda, with the aim of working towards no patients waiting longer than:

30 days for urgent patients

90 days for semi-urgent patients

365 days for non-urgent patients.

The Elective Surgery Strategy Plan continues to develop strategies that promote:

equity of access

system re-design with continued development of elective surgery sites

increased theatre efficiency and utilisation

improved peri-operative management of waiting list patients

out of hospital management of patients until they are deemed 'ready for care', which includes functionality management by general practitioner.