The NSW Government has intervened to expedite overdue endoscopy procedures with a $17 million funding boost.
The intervention comes after engagement with clinicians and patients about endoscopy wait times prompted NSW Health to collect data from across the health system, as it is not centrally monitored.
Preliminary estimates found about 20,000 endoscopy procedures may be overdue, with final figures still to be validated.
Timely access to endoscopy procedures has been a longstanding challenge for the health system, driven by several factors, including growing demand, an ageing population, and increasing referrals through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and via other channels.
The funding will enable NSW Health to increase endoscopy capacity beginning with the most urgent, with some of these endoscopies now underway.
Endoscopy is used to investigate, diagnose and monitor a range of health conditions. This includes examining symptoms affecting the digestive system and investigating possible bowel disease, including cancer.
Approximately 350,000 endoscopies are performed in NSW each year across public and private facilities, including 160,000 through NSW Health.
In addition to this funding boost, work is now underway to centrally monitor endoscopy wait times.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"To patients and clinicians who have spoken of endoscopy wait times, you've been heard and NSW Health is acting.
"Our priority has always been ensuring we improve access to health care. When this came to light, we immediately took action to make sure communities are getting the care they need as quickly as possible.
"I know that Health has been working over several months to collect this data and undertake the necessary planning to accelerate through these procedures, and now I want to see this funding opening up endoscopy appointments as quickly as possible.
"More than this, centrally monitoring endoscopy appointments will help the health system not only to get ahead of these overdue procedures, but to stay ahead."
Quotes attributable to Professor Tracey O’Brien, Chief Executive of Cancer Institute NSW and Chief Cancer Officer:
“We want more people screening for bowel cancer because finding cancer early can make an enormous difference to treatment and outcomes.
“With the screening age now lowered to 45, and as our population ages, more people will be eligible for screening, so we need to make sure access to timely colonoscopy keeps pace with demand.
“This investment will help build the capacity across our health system.”
Quotes attributable to Sarah Hosking, Chief Executive of Cancer Council NSW:
“Cancer Council NSW welcomes the action taken by the NSW Government to help patients receive these important procedures sooner, now and into the future.
“We have heard the concerns of people facing lengthy waits for a colonoscopy and have raised these concerns with the NSW Government, advocating for timely and equitable access. We are pleased to see action being taken to address these delays.
“The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program has been enormously important in supporting the early detection of bowel cancer, while also contributing to increased demand for endoscopy services.
“We know that early detection is vital. Bowel cancer is one of the most treatable cancers when detected early, so people who receive a positive screening result need timely access to the follow-up care they need.”