WA: Hundreds die waiting for surgery in WA public hospitals

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-1998
WA: Hundreds die waiting for surgery in WA public hospitals

PERTH, Dec 2 AAP - More than 250 people had died over the past year while waiting for
elective surgery in Western Australias public hospitals, according to figures released in
state parliament last night.

The 252 waiting-list deaths included six children awaiting surgery at Princess Margaret
Hospital for children.

"This is a shocking indictment of the Court governments ongoing neglect of our public
hospital system," opposition health spokesman Jim McGinty said in a statement.

"The figures presented to parliament last night show that patients have been dying every
month for the past 12 months, and the trend is getting worse."

The figures also showed that 7,960people dropped off the waiting list during the past 12
months without having received their operation.

Patients most commonly gave the reason for this as having sought treatment at a private
hospital.

Health Minister John Day said some of the 252 had died from causes unrelated to the
condition for which they were awaiting surgery.

But Mr McGinty said that still meant many elderly patients would have spent their last
months suffering from painful medical conditions.

AAP kbw/it

KEYWORD: LISTS WA

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