Private hospitals ready to help cut Vic surgery waits

THE Victorian Liberals and Nationals have announced plans to enlist the specialist surgical capacity of private hospitals to fast-track stranded patients waiting for surgery in the public hospital system.

The Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA), having championed the initiative, says the private hospital partnership is a win-win for Victorian surgery patients, and a pragmatic approach that makes better use of capacity available across Victoria's health system.

The Surgery Sooner program would see private hospitals with capacity treat public patients, with four-year contracts providing the certainty needed for hospitals to plan staffing, resources and surgical workloads.

Most importantly, it is good news for patients. Every public patient treated through private hospital capacity is one less person waiting for surgery and helps relieve pressure on the public system.

The APHA believes there is an opportunity for governments across Australia to make greater use of these kinds of partnerships to get patients treated sooner. APHA CEO Brett Heffernan said the proposal would be a win for patients, hospitals and the broader health system.

"The Victorian Liberals and Nationals are to be applauded on a practical, real-world solution to waiting lists in public hospitals," he said.

"Enlisting the specialist surgical capacity of Victorian private hospitals to treat public patients on waiting lists just makes sense.

"For patients, this is about getting the surgery they need sooner rather than spending longer on a waiting list. For the public system, it means reducing pressure by using hospital capacity that already exists.

"Queensland has shown how public and private hospitals can work together through its Surgery Connect program. There is a strong case for at these practical, long-term partnerships across Australia.

"Public work in Victorian private hospitals ground to a halt about two years ago. Even then it was ad hoc. The commitment to four-year contracts changes that by giving patients, private hospitals and the health system surety.

"Multi-year contracts mean private hospitals can properly plan their workloads, allocate staff and resources and ensure the capacity is there when it is needed.

"Where there are patients waiting for surgery and spare capacity in private hospitals able to provide it, pairing the two together makes the public-private system truly complementary. It's a win-win for patients and the health system."

-ENDS-

The APHA's full proposal is available at: A Framework for Public-Private Collaboration and Cooperation.

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