The ACT government has pointed to a limited number of surgeons in specific specialties as the primary cause for Canberra's persistent elective surgery backlog. Despite achieving record levels of surgical activity, waiting lists have not diminished, with particular strains in orthopaedic, ear, nose and throat, and vascular procedures.
Elective Surgery Targets Missed Despite High Activity
Canberra Health Services failed to meet its elective surgery wait time benchmarks in the latter half of 2025, according to a statement presented to the ACT Legislative Assembly. The organisation completed over 8,600 procedures this year, yet patient backlogs remain concentrated among a small cohort of surgeons.
Performance against targets was notably below par:
- Category 1 surgeries: 81 per cent completed within 30 days, against a target of 100 per cent.
- Category 2 surgeries: 62 per cent completed within 90 days, against a target of 80 per cent.
- Category 3 surgeries: 74 per cent completed within a year, against a target of 93 per cent.
The statement emphasised that elective surgery activity is at unprecedented levels, but the backlog of overdue patients persists, largely due to shortages in several key specialties. Canberra Health Services plans to review theatre allocations, align resources with waitlist burdens, and recruit to fill specialty vacancies.
Specialty-Specific Wait Times Highlight Critical Gaps
As of late January, 1,017 out of 6,314 patients waiting for elective surgery were overdue. Orthopaedics faced significant delays, with 851 out of 1,850 patients overdue, including 581 category three patients waiting over 365 days. This follows the resignation of three orthopaedic surgeons in early 2025 amid disputes over pay and hospital policy changes.
Other specialties also showed concerning figures:
- Otolaryngology (ENT): 386 patients overdue for head and neck surgeries.
- Vascular surgery: 65 per cent of 230 patients overdue, including 45 category one cases needing attention within 30 days.
- Ophthalmology: 109 patients overdue, though this represents less than 10 per cent of the total waiting list.
Productivity Commission Data Reveals Extended Waits for Common Procedures
Recent Productivity Commission data underscores the severity of delays for routine surgeries in Canberra. Median wait times for 2024-25 included 388 days for total knee replacements and 181 days for total hip replacements. At the 90th percentile, patients endured even longer waits:
- Tonsillectomy: 740 days
- Total knee replacement: 618 days
- Total hip replacement: 554 days
- Inguinal herniorrhaphy: 371 days
Emergency Department Performance Also Falls Short
Canberra Health Services additionally missed its emergency department wait time targets. Nearly half of patients stayed more than four hours in the second half of 2025, far exceeding the goal of 80 per cent discharged within four hours. Key metrics showed:
- Only 40 per cent of emergency patients were seen within 10 minutes, against a target of 80 per cent for category two cases.
- 46 per cent of urgent patients were seen within 30 minutes, and 62 per cent of semi-urgent cases within an hour.
- 99 per cent of resuscitation cases were addressed immediately, and 84 per cent of non-urgent patients within 120 minutes.
The statement attributed these challenges to a significant increase in emergency department demand over the past three years, with ACT presentations per capita reaching record levels. Sustained growth has pressured capacity and patient flow, contributing to longer waiting times and extended stays.
Despite these issues, the hospitals exceeded targets for surgical complications and avoidable readmissions. Canberra Health Services remains committed to delivering safe, timely, and high-quality emergency care while implementing system initiatives to manage rising demand and improve patient flow.
