Doctors launch task force to tackle Queensland's 'hidden waiting lists'

Queensland's peak medical body is taking proactive steps to combat the growing problem of "waiting list to get on the waiting list." The Australian Medical Association Queensland (AMAQ) has established a new task force to address the significant backlog of patients awaiting specialist appointments, a figure that has surged by 15% in the past year to over 362,000. While the state government reports a slight decrease in the official surgery waitlist, with just over 60,000 people waiting as of May, the AMAQ emphasizes the much larger number of individuals struggling to even access an initial consultation. AMAQ president Associate Professor Erica Gannon stated that patients are enduring months, and sometimes years, simply to determine the necessary care they require. "This working group is AMA Queensland's contribution to finding sensible solutions that will support more patients being seen," she said. The six-member task force, composed of doctors from various specialties across Queensland, will be chaired by former AMAQ president Dr. Nick Yim. Dr. Yim, a general practitioner in regional Queensland, expressed deep concern about the capacity of local public hospitals to manage the increasing patient referrals. He noted that as the population grows and ages, the complexity of conditions also rises, placing immense pressure on the healthcare system. Dr. Yim highlighted the critical situation in his hometown of Hervey Bay, where over 14,000 patients were waiting for specialist appointments in May. Alarmingly, nearly 60% of the most urgent cases were not seen within clinically recommended timeframes. Similar pressures are evident across the state, with over 25,000 patients in Cairns waiting for initial appointments and a significant percentage of urgent cases facing delays. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie acknowledged the government's efforts to reduce waitlists, stating that progress is being made despite the challenges of managing complex health issues in a growing population.

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We know patients are spending months and sometimes years waiting just to find out what care they need.