It coincides with more investment in hospitals and staff, as well as more pathways to care outside of the hospital.
At the same time, hospitals are facing growing pressure from patients who are ready to leave but remain in hospital waiting for Commonwealth aged care or NDIS placements.
Overdue surgeries reducing
At the end of the quarter, the number of patients in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District who had waited longer than clinically recommended for their surgery was 219 down from 932 three years ago.
ED performance improvements
The proportion of triage 2 patients with life threatening conditions in ISLHD being treated on time increased in the October December 2025 quarter compared to three years ago - from 41 per cent to 46.8 percent.
Notable hospitals include Wollongong Hospital which increased from 47.1 per cent three years ago to 56, and Shellharbour which improved 51 per cent three years ago to 54.6.
And fewer patients with semi-urgent and non-urgent conditions are presenting to ISLHD EDs, with an increase take up of Healthdirect and expansion of virtual care services.
Patients awaiting placement
The total number of patients waiting for a Commonwealth aged care or NDIS placement in ISLHD increased from 103 to 135 in the year to 31 December 2025.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park:
"Our hospitals continue to show signs of progress and improvement in terms of ED and surgery wait times, which has coincided with our investments in more hospitals, more staff, and more pathways to care outside of the hospital.
"We're focused on saving our EDs for the patients who need it most while sparing people with non-life threatening conditions an unnecessary wait.
"These improvements however are being offset by Commonwealth bed block - patients ready to be discharged but unable to leave because they are waiting for Commonwealth aged care or NDIS placements. They deserve better.
"I am so grateful for the additional help and assistance our federal colleagues announced last week, but there is more work to be done."
Quotes attributable to Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:
