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Question and Answer Tracking Details

4629 - CLINICIAN WORKFORCE AT ORANGE HEALTH SERVICE

Donato, Philip to the Minister for Health, Minister for Regional Health, and Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast

(1) Have waiting times outside the hospital to see a surgeon extended to double that of Australia generally?

(2) Have clinician workforce in both the Orange Health Service and the Western NSW Local Health Service reduced to below sustainable levels in key disciplines including breast cancer surgery, urology and vascular surgery?

(3) Have job applications been made from suitable candidates in these medical disciplines at Orange Health Service?

(4) If yes to the above (1) – (3), could you please advise why this downward trend in clinician workforce at Orange Health Service continues?
Answer -

I am advised:

Surgeons at Orange Health Service are Visiting Medical Officers in private practice. Orange Health Service has no visibility of waiting times outside of hospital.

There has been an increase in the specialist medical workforce at Orange Health Service, following recent recruitment of a specialist breast cancer surgeon and 2 specialist urologists. The health service does not have a specialist vascular surgery service and refers those patients to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. In January 2025, Orange Health Service welcomed 22 new medical interns.

Question asked on 18 March 2025 (session 58-1) and printed in Questions & Answers Paper No. 99
Answer received on 22 April 2025 and to be printed in Questions & Answers Paper No. 106

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.