Waiting lists – the continuing debate
Many health professionals dispute the amount of attention given to public hospital waiting lists when elective surgery admissions to public hospitals account for less than 15% of all hospital activity.
Emergency admissions and medical admissions-for ongoing treatment such as chemotherapy, dialysis, maternity services – make up the lion’s share of hospital care.
The Australian Hospital Association (AHA) argues that other measures for health system performance deserve greater prominence, rather than being shaded by a “simplistic tool that is subject to politicisation”.
The AHA nominates a balanced scorecard approach to hospital performance in which outcomes, quality of care, patient satisfaction and so forth would rank highly, and advocates clearer national standards.
