Victoria Breaks Record for Planned Surgeries Two Years in a Row

Victoria's public hospitals have delivered a record number of planned surgeries for the second consecutive year.

More than 212,000 surgeries were completed across the state in the past year, the highest on record. Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas met with healthcare workers at Monash Health today to acknowledge their contribution to this milestone. Monash Health alone performed almost 30,000 planned surgeries, supported by its Integrated Perioperative Care Centre, which streamlines complex and high-risk procedures to ease pressure on the main operating theatres and improve patient outcomes.

In the most recent quarter, 58,264 patients received planned surgeries - a 13 per cent increase on pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, the state's surgery waitlist fell by 3.7 per cent.

All Category 1 patients were treated within clinically recommended timeframes, while wait times for Category 2 and 3 patients dropped by five and 25 days respectively, compared to the same quarter last year.

These improvements have been driven by the Labor Government's Planned Surgery Blueprint, which is overhauling how surgery is delivered in Victoria. Key reforms include:

• Expanding access to non-surgical treatment options
• Preparing patients for faster recoveries
• Increasing the number of same-day surgeries
• Boosting surgical capacity through purpose-built infrastructure such as Rapid Access Hubs and Public Surgical Centres

To better support regional communities, the government is establishing five new Patient Support Units (PSUs) at:

• Central Highlands Rural Health
• Mildura Base Public Hospital
• Echuca Regional Health
• Colac Area Health
• Bass Coast Health

This brings the total number of PSUs across the state to 28, helping patients navigate the surgical process, explore treatment alternatives, and stay informed at every stage of their care.

Meanwhile, Victoria's emergency departments saw unprecedented demand last quarter, with more than 513,200 presentations. Despite this, treatment times improved, supported by a range of new initiatives.

Paramedics responded to more than 98,000 priority cases - averaging nearly 1,100 per day - amid ongoing winter pressures. In response, the government's new Standards for Safe and Timely Ambulance and Emergency Care are helping streamline care delivery, support emergency staff, and reduce wait times.

Since launching in February, these standards have:

• Saved the equivalent of 940 days in wait times
• Freed up more than 4,000 paramedic shifts
• Enabled 70 per cent of ambulance transfers to be completed within 40 minutes

The state's Virtual Emergency Department and Urgent Care Clinics continue to play a critical role, offering timely care and helping reduce pressure on emergency departments.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Mary-Anne Thomas:

"We're transforming how we deliver surgery - helping a record number of Victorians get the care they need, faster."

"Despite record winter demand, our dedicated healthcare workers continue to deliver world-class care - but we know there is more to do."

"That's why we are making additional investments and delivering reforms, including our new ambulance and emergency care standards, which are already helping deliver that care even sooner."