Media Release | 26 May 2025
Libby Mettam MLA
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister for Health
The number of West Australians waiting longer than doctors recommend for priority surgeries – category 1, 2 and 3 – has soared by 288 per cent since Labor came to power, more than eight years ago.
Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said surgery waitlist figures showed that hundreds of the most gravely ill Western Australians were currently waiting months for urgent and often life-saving surgery.
“The Cook Labor Government has found the time to announce a tender for a $220 million racetrack and buy a rugby league team, while people requiring priority elective surgery is up nearly 300 per cent,” she said.
“This is a government that has its priorities out of whack. How can a racetrack be prioritised over surgery for people in extreme pain, or with life-threatening conditions?
“It’s time for the Cook Labor Government to prioritise the lives and health of West Australians above race cars and rugby league.”
In 2017, there were 1,242 people waiting in the over boundary (Category 1, 2 and 3) surgery category, while in March this year, that number had jumped to 4,823 people.
As of March this year, 305 patients waiting for Category 1 surgery were waiting longer than the recommended 30 days for their surgery.
“People waiting for Category 1 surgery are generally in extreme pain and/or have life-threatening conditions,” Ms Mettam said.
“The Premier’s answer when questioned on this issue is to say he is proud of his government’s record in health.”
“How can the Premier possibly be proud that people are waiting weeks and months for surgery that will alleviate pain or save their lives?”
Ms Mettam said the number of people waiting for elective surgery does not include the potentially hundreds more patients who have been referred for surgery but were on a waitlist to have an initial consult with a surgeon.
“It’s hard to imagine the stress of being told you have cancer and need urgent surgery, and then you have to wait weeks, or months, for an initial consult with a surgeon to potentially go on to a waitlist,” she said.
ENDS
