The Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) is disappointed by the announcement today by the Minns Labor Government of a small, one-off $30 million investment in short stay surgery.
While any new funding is always welcome, the ASA supports comments by AMA (NSW) today that without long-term planning, workforce investment and structural reform, today’s announcement is just another temporary solution to a permanent problem.
Specialist anaesthetists are crucial to any sustainable, system-wide strategy to improve access to planned (elective) surgery, reduce wait times, save on costs, and enhance patient experience across NSW.
In 2024 the ASA released anaesthetist workforce modelling demonstrating that all jurisdictions, including NSW, need more anaesthetists to service existing and future demand.
The recent Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding also affirmed the need for system improvements to better enable and support the NSW health workforce, which includes anaesthetists, to continue to deliver high quality care to patients.
There has been no pay rise for Staff Specialist or Visiting Medical Officer anaesthetists since July 2023 which makes working for NSW Health increasingly unattractive and uncompetitive compared to other states.
Surgical lists continue to be cancelled across NSW public hospitals due to a lack of anaesthetists.
Finally, the need for increased numbers and better coordination of trainee anaesthetist positions in NSW is critical. This should include consideration by NSW Health of funding centralised recruitment for trainee anaesthetist positions.