After a damning report detailing a 299 day wait for elective cataract surgery at Griffith Base Hospital (GBH), the NSW Ministry of Health has provided the hospital with a funding boost to help combat the issue.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
GBH has received funding for an additional 50 elective cataract extractions, the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) said on Wednesday.
The funding has been welcomed by the MLHD and eye physician and surgeon Dr Paul Latimer.
“This is a fantastic result for the people of Griffith and surrounding areas,” Dr Latimer said.
An additional 12 procedures have been performed in November with 12 more to follow in December this year, thereby reducing the current waiting list considerably.
- Eye physician and surgeon Dr Paul Latimer.
“An additional 12 procedures have been performed in November with 12 more to follow in December this year, thereby reducing the current waiting list considerably,” he said.
Revelations on the 299 day wait for cataract surgery were slammed as “absolutely unacceptable” by the Country Labor party.
The Ministry of Health has contributed the funding through its Elective Surgery Initiative 2017.
GBH General Manager Elizabeth Harford said MLHD applied for this funding as a result of a Ministry of Health state-wide request.
“The initiative is designed to assist in reducing average waiting times for targeted surgical procedures,” Ms Harford said.
RELATED:
The Director Operation of MLHD, Brett Thompson said Griffith Base Hospital has performed better than its peer hospitals in NSW despite an increase in patients.
“Griffith Base Hospital is striving to maintain and improve this performance, and strong relationships with the primary health sector to support patients which chronic illness and reduce their need for hospitalisation,” Mr Thompson said.
“It is one of the many strategies being used to support the Griffith Base Hospital Emergency Department.”
The funding comes from the recently announced NSW Government’s $3 million to help cut wait lists for cataract and hip and knee surgeries in hospitals across the state.
