Further question about costs of public patient elective surgery

Mrs Armitage (Launceston) to the Honourable Leader of Government in the Legislative Council, Dr Vanessa Goodwin -

Under the Tasmanian and Government Partnership that saw public patient elective surgery performed in private hospitals both in Tasmania and interstate can the Leader advise:

1 The total cost of accommodation and all transport for these surgeries to date under this partnership?

2 (a) The number of patients who suffered complications following these surgeries; and

(b) The length of time these patients

Answer from Dr Goodwin -

1. The total number of surgeries provided under the Private Panel arrangement was 465, comprising 140 surgeries in Tasmania and 325 in Melbourne.

This important program allowed Tasmanians to receive surgery sooner than they otherwise would have been able to.

As at 24 October 2016, invoicing had occurred for 353 patients, at a total cost of $435 391 for all transport and accommodation. This is an average of $ 1 233 per person.

2(a) To date, nine patients have been identified who had a complication directly related to their surgical procedure, with one further adverse event that is currently being reviewed.

This rate of complication represents 1.9 per cent of total surgeries provided under the panel arrangement, less than the key performance indicator under the Panel contract of less than 2.5 per cent.

(b) Of these nine patients, I am advised five had an average length of stay of 11.2 days each, with review of the other cases ongoing.