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Only half of operating rooms are ever in use

Re: “Cutting wait lists is not impossible,” editorial, Dec. 4.
Re: “Cutting wait lists is not impossible,” editorial, Dec. 4.

As a GP here for more than 20 years, who has assisted my specialist colleagues in surgery in our hospital operating rooms, I can correct the editorial on one item not needed to shorten wait lists: more operating rooms.

Only half of the rooms are ever in use. It costs “too much” for the hospital to pay for staff if all the rooms are in use, as “too many” patients would be in recovery and needing care.

It might surprise readers to know that only 15 per cent of in-patients are surgical. The vast majority of in-patients are usually the frail elderly, who are not able to be cared for in their homes or in the community.

Wait lists for elective surgery are only one part of our complex health-care system needing reform.

Vanessa Young, MD

Victoria