Published Thursday, 05 April, 2007 at 08:37 AM

Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
SURGERY SOONER FOR ‘LONG WAIT’ ELECTIVE PATIENTS
Long-wait patients on public hospital elective surgery waiting lists will benefit from an $8.5 million Beattie Government initiative to have them treated sooner in the private sector.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson today announced a public tender seeking an external broker to assist Queensland Health manage the referral and treatment of patients by private health care providers.
“Surgery Connect represents an innovative approach by the government to reduce the backlog of ‘long wait’ patients on elective surgery waiting lists,” he said.
“It’s designed to maximise treatment options for Queenslanders waiting longer than nationally-recommended for their surgery.
“It will mean thousands of extra operations for long wait elective patients.
“And patients will still get their surgery for free.
“Surgery Connect is about ensuring long wait patients have their surgery done sooner by utilising available doctors in the private sector.
“This will also help ease the burden on our hard-working public hospital doctors who must always give priority to patients needing emergency surgery.”
Surgery Connect will target elective surgery in disciplines including orthopaedic, cardio-thoracic, vascular, urology, ophthalmology, gynaecology and general surgery.
Examples of procedures include hip and knee replacements, shoulder surgery, hysterectomies, corrective eye surgery, prostate removal and bladder procedures, repairing obstructed arteries, removing parathyroid glands and fixing abdominal aneurysms.
Mr Robertson said Surgery Connect is a one-off initiative that will complement existing arrangements to increase Queensland’s elective surgery output.
“Our public hospitals already outsource some elective surgery to the private sector.
“Queensland is also taking the national lead by rolling out new centres at the Redcliffe, Caboolture and Queen Elizabeth 11 hospitals dedicated exclusively to performing elective surgery,” Mr Robertson said.
Under Surgery Connect:
- The broker will be responsible for identifying appropriate private sector service providers to treat ‘long wait’ elective surgery patients on behalf of Queensland Health.
- The broker will accept referrals from public hospitals and coordinate the patient’s full treatment from initial medical consultation to post-operative care.
- The private service provider will be expected to promptly admit patients referred for treatment and perform procedures within 30 days of referral at, where possible, a hospital within the patient’s local health service district.
- Private sector providers must also be willing to provide their services at prices no higher than those prescribed through the Commonwealth Department of Veterans Affairs.
“That will ensure value for money for Queensland taxpayers and greater efficiency.”
Mr Robertson encouraged appropriate organisations, including the Australian Medical Association, to submit expressions of interest for the brokerage tender.
“Surgery Connect is an excellent opportunity for Queensland Health to forge new partnerships and strengthen existing partnerships with private sector health care providers.
“With demand on our public hospital system increasing every day, it is only logical that we explore new opportunities within the private sector to improve the timeliness of health care afforded to Queenslanders,” he said.
Expressions of interest for the public tender close on 9 May 2007.
Media: Paul Lynch 3234 1190