Victorian children risk ‘long-term suffering’ due to surgery wait blowouts

Victorian children are suffering while waiting for delayed operations.

The Age has spoken to two paediatric surgeons who say they’re commonly operating on children who should have had surgery months ago.

At the end of 2022, the median wait time for category three surgeries was 421 days — up nearly 60 per cent comparted to a year earlier.

Neurosurgeon and Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Victorian chair, Dr Patrick Lo, says delays for surgeries in children can have dire consequences.

“When you’re talking about kids they’ve got a very limited time to get that right, otherwise they’re suffering long term into adulthood,” he told Ross and Russel.

Press PLAY below to hear why delays for children’s surgeries can have lifelong consequences

Victorian president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Roderick McRae, agrees delaying surgery in kids can have lifelong impacts.

“It can affect your ability to learn and ultimately that can carry through to the rest of your life,” he told Neil Mitchell.

Press PLAY below to hear Dr McCrae’s thoughts