Economic evaluation of the proposed surgical scheme at Auburn Hospital

Project Member(s): Hall, J., Haas, M.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Sydney West Area Health Service

Start year: 2001

Summary: Background Public hospitals have experienced budget constraints but as demand for admissions has been growing at the same time, occupancy levels have been increasing. As emergency and urgent admissions are given priority, the effect has been not just longer waiting times and larger waiting lists for non-urgent admissions, but also frequent cancellations of elective surgery, thus adding to patients? waiting time. Consequently, there have been a number of attempts to reduce elective surgical waiting lists. The Auburn Elective Surgical Program (AESP) was a pilot program funded by the NSW Health Department, to improve elective surgery for patients in Western Sydney Area Health Service (WSAHS). The program commenced 19th July 2001 and ended 15th November 2001. Initially, the program targeted three specific surgical procedures, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, hernia repair, and haemorrhoidectomy, and was expanded to include thyroidectomy, ligation and stripping of varicose veins and endoscopy.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.