As of March 2025, the number of patients waiting for surgery in New South Wales (NSW) public hospitals has reached 100,678, just 346 short of the record peak during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This surge in elective surgery waiting lists is attributed to an ageing and increasingly unhealthy population, as noted by Dr. Fred Betros, the Australian Medical Association's NSW vice president.

In response to the growing crisis, Premier Chris Minns established a 'surgical care taskforce' shortly after taking office in March 2023, with Health Minister Ryan Park emphasizing the government's commitment to reducing these waiting lists.

To address the backlog, the NSW government has allocated an additional $23 million to hospitals, fulfilling a post-election promise.

Despite these efforts, patients requiring urgent surgery are facing an average wait of 13 days, while non-urgent surgery wait times have ballooned to 322 days, which is over a month longer than the previous year.

Currently, more than 8,000 patients are overdue for surgeries beyond their surgeons' recommendations, with 3,000 of those needing semi-urgent procedures within three months.

Opposition health spokesperson Kellie Sloane has criticized the government's response as inadequate, likening it to a temporary fix for a significant problem.

A report from the Special Commission of Inquiry has highlighted that NSW Health operates primarily as a reactive system, which risks being overwhelmed by chronic illnesses without proper preventive measures in place.

Concerns have been raised about hospitals potentially manipulating waitlist data to meet government performance benchmarks, including allegations of refusing patients who need time-critical procedures.

Critics argue that the government has not adequately addressed the healthcare needs posed by the baby boomer generation, which is contributing to the rising demand for surgeries.

During the pandemic, overdue surgeries peaked at over 18,000 but fell to below 2,000 by late 2024 due to measures like extended operating hours and outsourcing to private facilities.

Looking ahead, the government plans to provide an additional 3,500 surgeries over the next year, building on previous investments, including a $200 million allocation announced in December 2024 for surgical waitlists.