ACT meeting target waiting times for common cancer surgeries: report
Canberra's hospitals treat nearly all bowel, breast and lung cancer patients with an urgent need for surgery within the recommended time, a new report says.
The National Health Performance Authority revealed there were more than 200 surgeries for malignant bowel, breast and lung cancer performed last financial year across Canberra and Calvary hospitals.
For patients with malignant bowel and breast cancer, both Canberra Hospital, and Calvary Hospital completed at least 90 per cent of surgeries within 30 days.
Canberra Hospital had the longest median waiting time for breast cancer of all hospitals included in the report, at 25 days, but was still in the top category for wait times.
At least 90 per cent of surgeries for patients with malignant lung cancer had urgent surgery within 30 days at Canberra Hospital.
There were no urgent lung cancer surgeries performed at the Calvary Hospital.
Nationally, the report said, 13,697 people were operated on for cancers at public hospitals in 2012-13 and 92 per cent had their planned surgery within 30 days, and 97 per cent within 45 days.
ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher said overall the results reflected the Government's commitment to cancer treatment.
"I think this shows that where you are classified urgent in the surgery list, where your doctor says you need your operation particularly within 30 days, that almost 100 per cent of people are getting that," she said.
"It shows people waiting for cancer surgeries really do get their operations quickly... the results are very consistent across Canberra and Calvary Hospital."
Ms Gallagher said while the results were pleasing, there was more work to do to ensure cancer patients in the ACT received the best outcomes possible.
"In the last budget we've seen more money going into the elective surgery program, and of course also into extra cancer services, where we are seeing the cancer incident rate continue to grow in the ACT," she said.
"This is something we'll keep an eye on."
But Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson said while most surgeries were completed within 30 days, the ACT still had longer median waiting times for two of the three examined surgeries.
"For breast cancer and for bowel cancer people in the ACT are waiting longer for surgery than their compatriots in other jurisdictions," he said.
"I think that's disappointing and of course it's very worrying for those patients."
