'Everything's on hold': Patients caught in surgery backlog

Kelly-Ann Webb describes a constant, burning nerve pain in her face, a lingering effect of multiple surgeries, some of which were delayed, to address a jaw problem. She has been waiting two years for elective surgery to numb the pain, with further cancellations disrupting her treatment. The pain has led her to withdraw socially, as she struggles with eating in front of others and her young children find it difficult to understand her suffering.

“

It's like a constant burning sensation, right through the top of my mouth into my nose … right through my gums.

Tasmania's elective surgery waitlist currently stands at approximately 9,500 individuals, with only 57% of patients being seen within clinically recommended timeframes. While the state budget allocates an 8% increase in health funding over four years, this is offset by an 11% inflation forecast, resulting in a decrease in real funding. Furthermore, the Health Department is tasked with finding $702 million in efficiency cuts over the same period.

“

I've become socially withdrawn, because I can't feel what my mouth's doing, so you know, I don't like to eat in front of people.

Despite assurances from Health Minister Bridget Archer that the government is investing in the health system and that efficiencies will ensure sustainability, parliamentarians and health stakeholders express serious concerns about the potential impact on service delivery for Tasmanians. Kelly-Ann Webb feels the system is failing her, noting that despite financial adjustments, she sees no improvements.

“

I feel like everything's on hold … until I have some level of certainty about what, what the next few months will look like from a medical point of view.

Meanwhile, Penny*, who underwent a double mastectomy in early May for aggressive breast cancer, is anxiously awaiting pathology results to determine if the cancer has spread. She was told the wait could be six to 10 weeks, leaving her feeling that "everything's on hold." The uncertainty significantly impacts her emotional state, as she believes anxiety is detrimental to recovery. She noted that sending samples interstate could yield results in one to two weeks, highlighting the perceived slowness of the Tasmanian system.

“

They've pulled money out, they've put money in, I can't see any improvements anyway.