In just over a year, more than 900 South Coast public patients have had their surgery called off on the very day they were scheduled to be operated on.
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The figures, obtained under freedom of information legislation, reveal that from July 2018 to August 2019, there were a total of 1301 day of surgery cancellations within the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.
The vast majority - 911 - were due to hospitals cancelling the procedures.
Labor's health spokesman Ryan Park said the figures highlighted a health system under stress.
"More people than ever on the elective surgery waiting list and dozens of people are cancelled at the last minute thanks to a health system that is not able to cope," he said.
"People are left waiting for months to only be told on the day that their procedure won't go ahead and this is simply not good enough."
The latest Bureau of Health Information data shows that at the end of June, there were 6111 people on the waiting list ready for elective surgery - a 6.1 per cent increase on the same time the previous year.
Of those, 1184 were awaiting surgery for cataracts; 491 needed a knee replacement; 429 required a tonsillectomy and 240 were waiting for a hip replacement.
The Keira MP, who secured the cancellation figures under the Government Information (Public Access) Act, said it took its toll on patients, and families.
"The reality is these people are living with pain and discomfort every day and when an operation is delayed or cancelled it causes an enormous amount of stress on them and those around them," Mr Park said.
"Patients may be suddenly told to leave hospital after they have been lying in a hospital bay, having fasted and had blood taken in preparation for surgery.
Patients may be suddenly told to leave hospital after they have been lying in a hospital bay.
- Keira MP Ryan Park
"People aren't on a waiting list to get a band aid. We are talking about hip and knee replacements and back surgery all of which have resulted in the patient living in pain and discomfort for some time.
"It's also extremely disruptive given that people may have organised time off work and asked family members to help them during their recovery."
The BHI Hospital Quarterly report revealed that 89.5 per cent of all elective surgery was completed on time in the district - compared to the state average of 96.4 per cent.
At the end of the April to June quarter, there were 111 patients left waiting more than a year for surgery at Illawarra Shoalhaven hospitals.
Mr Park said state government cuts to the health budget would only result in more cancellations.
"Cuts to health aren't felt at the top, they're felt in every ward and every bed. Nurses and doctors are doing their best but are limited to the resources provided to them," he said.
"Gladys Berejiklian looked the people in the eye at March and said they could have it all. I guess that didn't include people who are unwell and waiting on vital and necessary procedures."
Cancelled patients then receive priority, says district management
Patients whose surgery is cancelled within the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District are then put on a priority list, according to management.
Acting Executive Director Clinical Operations Suzanne Harris said there were a range of reasons why scheduled surgeries were cancelled.
However she said the majority of the district's patients had their surgery on time, with the most recent Bureau of Health Information quarterly results showing 99.3 per cent of all urgent surgeries were performed on time.
The BHI report, for April to June, also revealed that 88.7 per cent of semi-urgent surgeries and 85.1 per cent of non-urgent surgeries occurred within clinically recommended timeframes.
"Surgery may be postponed for a number of reasons, including if the patient is unwell, or to make theatre time available for another patient requiring more urgent or emergency surgery," Ms Harris said.
"If a patient's elective surgery is postponed, they are prioritised and are placed on the next available operating list."
Ms Harris said more than 13,300 elective surgeries were undertaken in 2018-19.
"(The district) is working on strategies to improve waiting times for patients needing orthopaedic, urology and ear nose and throat surgery and has recently received funding to do more urology and orthopaedic surgery this year," she said.
Ms Harris added that the NSW Government was investing in the redevelopment of hospitals in the district, including $434 million for Shoalhaven Hospital and $274 million for Shellharbour Hospital.
"These redevelopments will provide more operating theatres and expanded elective surgery for the communities of the southern Illawarra and Shoalhaven."
