HAMILTON - Nearly 9000 people on Health Waikato waiting lists are not booked for surgery and do not know when they will get treatment.
Health Funding Authority figures show 8757 people were waiting for treatment without a booking - the highest figure in the country.
The report, covering the period from last September to December, says another 3230 people had waited more than six months for their first specialist assessment at Health Waikato.
Both waiting lists breach authority standards, which say patients must have their first specialist assessment within six months and be told when they will be treated within six months of that assessment.
"For many services a six-month wait would be inappropriate," the report says.
Health Waikato said the actual waiting list was shorter, but was unable to give a number.
"A large number of patients have been given certainty about their treatment but have not been reported as such," said spokeswoman Karen Bennett.
The lists would reduce after Health Waikato took off people whose needs were cosmetic and who would not qualify for operations because of budget limits.
Health Waikato was trying to obtain more money for elective surgery next year to bring it into line with other regions, Ms Bennett said.
A newly appointed booking system manager would review the lists more often, keeping an especially close watch on people who had to wait longer than authority standards.
To shorten the list of people waiting more than six months for their first assessment, Health Waikato was performing extra outpatient visits.
The service was also making sure that referrals from general practitioners were essential, she said.
Valerie Meyer, the authority's national waiting time project leader, confirmed that Health Waikato was making good progress towards meeting the standards, which nine other regions had also not met.
She said Health Waikato had "a big road ahead" but was enthusiastic and positive.
The authority report shows Health Waikato fares slightly better with people waiting more than two years for an initial assessment.
It has the fifth-highest number at 356, behind South Auckland (1941), Canterbury Health (1811), Northland Health (1470) and Pacific Health Tauranga (504).
But nearby Lakeland Health Rotorua has only five.
The 3230 people waiting more than six months for a first specialist assessment at Health Waikato include 807 for ear, nose and throat treatment, 647 for ophthalmology (eye) treatment, 399 for orthopaedics, 331 for gynaecology, 241 for gastroenterology, 157 for audiology, 140 for neurology, 111 for general surgery, 92 for vascular and 68 for paediatrics.
- NZPA
Hamilton surgery list leaves 9000 in limbo
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