NEARLY 69,000 Victorians are currently waiting for planned surgeries. If elected, the Liberal-National Coalition has promised to establish a four-year $1.27B ‘SurgerySooner’ program, aimed at halving the current elective surgery waitlist.
The policy proposes partnering with over 100 private surgical hospitals and day surgeries to deliver an additional 25,000 public surgeries per year, at no cost to public patients.
The program is modelled on Queensland’s Surgery Connect program and would focus on procedures such as hip and knee replacements, gynaecological procedures, cataracts, hernia repairs, gastroscopies and colonoscopies.
Nationals candidate for Shepparton District, Shane Sali, said the program would address a longstanding issue across the community.
“Too many people across Shepparton District are waiting in pain for too long. Our SurgerySooner plan means patients waiting for elective surgeries will be treated sooner and have greater choice,” he said.
