Patients across Murrumbidgee are benefitting from improved access to planned surgery, following the Minns Labor Government's $30 million investment to expand High Volume Short Stay surgical services across the state.
As part of this investment, a High Volume Short Stay surgical service has been established at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.
The High Volume Short Stay surgical service at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital supports ear, nose and throat surgery, general surgery, gynaecology, urology, and orthopaedics surgeries.
Since its establishment in June 2026, the program has performed more than 50 surgeries, helping to enhance patient experience and patient flow.
Wagga Wagga Base Hospital is planning to enhance the unit with expanded support for same-day surgery patients and strengthened coordinated out-of-hospital care.
High Volume Short Stay surgeries are planned procedures where patients are admitted for up to 72 hours.
Statewide, the number of overdue surgeries peaked at more than 18,000 under the Liberals. Since being elected, the Minns Labor Government has reduced the number of people waiting longer than clinically recommended from 14,059 in March 2023 to 3,955 in March 2026.
The $30 million one-off injection builds on the $200 million invested since 2024 to reduce overdue surgeries, and the establishment of the state's first Surgery Hub at Northern Beaches Hospital, which has been active since 1 July and is expected to perform up to 5,000 additional surgeries per year.
The 2026-27 NSW Budget also included $10.3 billion to support increased capacity across the health system, including to deliver an estimated 2,900 additional planned surgeries.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park:
"The Minns Labor Government has taken action to slash the overdue surgery waitlist left behind by the Coalition.
"This is a significant boost to surgery services in Wagga Wagga, that will help patients access care sooner, recover faster, and spend less time in the hospital.
"We are investing in surgery services across the state, expanding access to care, delivering surgery on time, and improving patient outcomes."
Quotes attributable to Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr:
"Patients across Murrumbidgee are benefitting from the establishment of the new High Volume Short Stay service at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.
"This innovative approach not only improves patient outcomes but also allows clinicians to treat more people from our communities sooner.
"It is great to see a regional local health district at the forefront of innovative patient care."
Quotes attributable to Murrumbidgee Local Health District CE Emma Field:
"The High Volume Short Stay services are helping more patients have their surgery sooner and get home faster.
"By improving discharge planning and working closely across teams, we've created dedicated beds for planned surgery patients.
"This means patients are spending less time in hospital and are able to safely return home sooner."
Quotes attributable to surgeon A/Prof Dr Richard Harrison:
"Clinicians have always envisioned that a High Volume Short Stay unit would be integral part of the hospital.
"This allows for efficient use for planned surgery patients to have a streamlined and coordinated episode of care. This is the future of effective patient care.
"The surgeons of Wagga Wagga welcome the funding to support implementation of this unit."
