Surgery Waits

The longest published surgery waits in Australia

The longest published median wait in 2024–25 was 1236 days, for rhinoplasty at Box Hill Hospital in Victoria.

Reference period 2024–25 (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) · released

Every figure below is a median a public hospital published for 2024–25: half of the people who had that surgery there waited even longer. The two companion pages show where crossing a state border cuts the wait most and where waits rose and fell year on year.

A long median is a measured fact about surgery that already happened, not a judgement of a hospital: case mix, size and demand all differ. No hospital here is called best or worst, and a suppressed figure is never treated as a number.

The 50 longest published waits

The 50 longest published median waits across every surgery type and public hospital, 2024–25. Closed hospitals and suppressed figures are excluded. Every figure was released on 2026-05-28.
Rank Hospital Surgery State Median wait Surgeries
1 Box Hill Hospital Rhinoplasty VIC 1236 days 13 surgeries
2 Sunshine Hospital Dupuytren's contracture surgery VIC 1231 days 30 surgeries
3 Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital [Heidelberg West] Rhinoplasty VIC 951 days 19 surgeries
4 Box Hill Hospital Septoplasty VIC 910 days 75 surgeries
5 Dandenong Hospital Breast reduction VIC 849 days 10 surgeries
6 Albury Wodonga Health [Wodonga Campus] Septoplasty VIC 814 days 61 surgeries
7 Royal Perth Hospital Wellington Street Campus Rhinoplasty WA 794 days 28 surgeries
8 Western Hospital [Footscray] Eardrum repair VIC 787 days 11 surgeries
9 Royal Children's Hospital [Parkville] Ptosis - repair of VIC 779 days 27 surgeries
10 Royal Darwin Hospital Eardrum repair NT 767 days 30 surgeries
11 Lismore Base Hospital Eardrum repair NSW 736 days 10 surgeries
12 Albury Wodonga Health [Wodonga Campus] Turbinectomy VIC 729 days 26 surgeries
13 The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital Rhinoplasty VIC 723 days 10 surgeries
14 Albury Wodonga Health [Wodonga Campus] Varicose vein surgery VIC 714 days 18 surgeries
15 Blackburn Public Surgical Centre Septoplasty VIC 690 days 94 surgeries
16 Albury Wodonga Health [Wodonga Campus] Knee replacement VIC 667 days 103 surgeries
17 The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Breast reduction SA 659 days 45 surgeries
18 Rockingham General Hospital Prolapse repair WA 631 days 17 surgeries
19 Royal Adelaide Hospital Breast reduction SA 588 days 22 surgeries
20 Fiona Stanley Hospital Adenoidectomy WA 585 days 17 surgeries
21 Rockhampton Hospital Knee replacement QLD 562 days 41 surgeries
22 Monash Medical Centre [Moorabbin] Cleft lip and palate - repair of VIC 560 days 19 surgeries
23 Royal Adelaide Hospital Breast reconstruction SA 558 days 17 surgeries
24 Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital [Heidelberg West] Septoplasty VIC 557 days 262 surgeries
25 Flinders Medical Centre Breast reduction SA 553 days 25 surgeries
26 Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital [Heidelberg West] Stapedectomy VIC 553 days 13 surgeries
27 Monash Medical Centre [Moorabbin] Breast reconstruction VIC 553 days 20 surgeries
28 Latrobe Regional Hospital [Traralgon] Rhinoplasty VIC 551 days 12 surgeries
29 Modbury Hospital Rhinoplasty SA 543 days 18 surgeries
30 Northeast Health Wangaratta Septoplasty VIC 543 days 24 surgeries
31 Fiona Stanley Hospital Breast reconstruction WA 541 days 42 surgeries
32 Austin Hospital [Heidelberg] Septoplasty VIC 534 days 78 surgeries
33 Port Pirie Regional Health Service Septoplasty SA 513 days 17 surgeries
34 Port Pirie Regional Health Service Functional endoscopic sinus surgery SA 510 days 18 surgeries
35 Fremantle Hospital and Health Service Sub-mucosal resection WA 498 days 48 surgeries
36 Modbury Hospital Eardrum repair SA 487 days 16 surgeries
37 Sunshine Hospital Carpal tunnel surgery VIC 482 days 62 surgeries
38 John Hunter Hospital Eardrum repair NSW 481 days 14 surgeries
39 The Canberra Hospital Septoplasty ACT 481 days 44 surgeries
40 Bowral Hospital Knee replacement NSW 473 days 78 surgeries
41 Fremantle Hospital and Health Service Blepharoplasty WA 473 days 33 surgeries
42 Latrobe Regional Hospital [Traralgon] Functional endoscopic sinus surgery VIC 473 days 54 surgeries
43 Sunshine Hospital Trigger finger release VIC 473 days 17 surgeries
44 Fremantle Hospital and Health Service Ptosis - repair of WA 471 days 11 surgeries
45 Maitland Hospital Thyroidectomy/hemi-thyroidectomy NSW 464 days 17 surgeries
46 Coffs Harbour Hospital Varicose vein surgery NSW 462 days 14 surgeries
47 Lismore Base Hospital Septoplasty NSW 462 days 14 surgeries
48 Bowral Hospital Shoulder joint replacement NSW 456 days 14 surgeries
49 Fiona Stanley Hospital Functional endoscopic sinus surgery WA 452 days 13 surgeries
50 Port Pirie Regional Health Service Adenoidectomy SA 451 days 21 surgeries

Shortest and longest, surgery by surgery

The spread within one surgery type is the point: the same operation can have a published median ten times longer at one public hospital than another. Each surgery links to its full state-by-state comparison.

The shortest and longest published median wait per surgery type, 2024–25, for surgery types where at least two public hospitals published a figure. Every figure was released on 2026-05-28.
Surgery Shortest published median Longest published median Hospitals
Abdominal or thoracic aortic aneurysm - repair/replacement 3 days — Wollongong Hospital (NSW) 98 days — The Prince Charles Hospital (QLD) 24
ACL reconstruction 14 days — Gawler Health Service (SA) 390 days — Shellharbour Hospital (NSW) 108
Acromioplasty/arthroscopy shoulder/sub acromial decompression 14 days — Gawler Health Service (SA) 376 days — Albany Hospital (WA) 43
Adenoidectomy 1 day — Mount Isa Base Hospital (QLD) 585 days — Fiona Stanley Hospital (WA) 70
Amputation of limb 3 days — Box Hill Hospital (VIC) 32 days — Royal Perth Hospital Wellington Street Campus (WA) 22
Anal fissure - repair of 18 days — Northern Beaches Hospital (NSW) 118 days — Cranbourne Integrated Care Centre (VIC) 21
Arthrodesis 10 days — The Alfred (VIC) 428 days — Toowoomba Hospital (QLD) 51
Arthroplasty - revision of 14 days — Gold Coast University Hospital (QLD) 356 days — Wagga Wagga Hospital (NSW) 27
Arthroscopy 15 days — Gawler Health Service (SA) 360 days — Blacktown Hospital (NSW) 150
Axillary node dissection 6 days — Joondalup Health Campus (Public) (WA) 24 days — Calvary Mater Newcastle (NSW) 11
Bartholin's abscess drainage 8 days — South West Healthcare [Warrnambool] (VIC) 102 days — Royal Hospital for Women (NSW) 2
Blepharoplasty 28 days — Princess Alexandra Hospital (QLD) 473 days — Fremantle Hospital and Health Service (WA) 23
Breast lump removal 6 days — St Vincent's On the Park (VIC) 47 days — Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital (NSW) 105
Breast prosthesis - removal of 20 days — Toowoomba Hospital (QLD) 363 days — Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital [Heidelberg West] (VIC) 22
Breast reconstruction 8 days — St Vincent's Hospital [Melbourne] (VIC) 558 days — Royal Adelaide Hospital (SA) 34
Breast reduction 53 days — Osborne Park Hospital (WA) 849 days — Dandenong Hospital (VIC) 24
Bunion surgery 32 days — St Vincent's Hospital [Melbourne] (VIC) 402 days — Wollongong Hospital (NSW) 19
Carotid endarterectomy 8 days — St Vincent's Hospital [Melbourne] (VIC) 50 days — Concord Repatriation Hospital (NSW) 27
Carpal tunnel surgery 1 day — Deniliquin Hospital (NSW) 482 days — Sunshine Hospital (VIC) 160
Cataract surgery 1 day — Latrobe Regional Hospital [Traralgon] (VIC) 383 days — The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (SA) 132
Cervical discectomy and fusion 14 days — Royal Darwin Hospital (NT) 330 days — Concord Repatriation Hospital (NSW) 23
Circumcision 7 days — St John of God Midland Public Hospital (WA) 384 days — Westmead Hospital (NSW) 102
Cleft lip and palate - repair of 53 days — Queensland Children's Hospital (QLD) 560 days — Monash Medical Centre [Moorabbin] (VIC) 8
Colectomy/anterior resection/large bowel resection 5 days — Griffith Base Hospital (NSW) 84 days — Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital [Heidelberg West] (VIC) 87
Common peroneal nerve release 62 days — Princess Alexandra Hospital (QLD) 141 days — Toowoomba Hospital (QLD) 6
Cone biopsy 15 days — Sunshine Hospital (VIC) 33 days — Gympie Hospital (QLD) 12
Congenital cardiac defect/s - procedure for 34 days — The Children's Hospital at Westmead (NSW) 178 days — Royal Children's Hospital [Parkville] (VIC) 3
Corneal graft 67 days — The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital (VIC) 203 days — Royal Adelaide Hospital (SA) 13
Coronary artery bypass grafting 1 day — Wollongong Hospital (NSW) 74 days — Liverpool Hospital (NSW) 23
Cranioplasty 16 days — Westmead Hospital (NSW) 86 days — John Hunter Hospital (NSW) 15
Craniotomy 2 days — Sydney Children's Hospital (NSW) 126 days — Royal North Shore Hospital (NSW) 25
Curettage and evacuation of uterus 1 day — Blackburn Public Surgical Centre (VIC) 320 days — Blacktown Hospital (NSW) 81
Cystectomy 16 days — Sunshine Coast University Hospital (QLD) 78 days — Royal North Shore Hospital (NSW) 18
Cystoscopy 1 day — Bathurst Base Hospital (NSW) 113 days — Manning Hospital (NSW) 131
Dacryocystorhinostomy 68 days — Royal Adelaide Hospital (SA) 364 days — Kurri Kurri Hospital (NSW) 10
Dermoid cyst - removal of 13 days — St Vincent's Hospital [Darlinghurst] (NSW) 188 days — The Children's Hospital at Westmead (NSW) 5
Dialysis access surgery 1 day — Broome Hospital (WA) 71 days — Osborne Park Hospital (WA) 75
Dilatation and curettage 1 day — Thursday Island Hospital (QLD) 104 days — Gladstone Hospital (QLD) 158
Discectomy 16 days — Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (NSW) 124 days — Liverpool Hospital (NSW) 30
Dupuytren's contracture surgery 18 days — South Coast District Hospital (SA) 1231 days — Sunshine Hospital (VIC) 63
Eardrum repair 66 days — Joondalup Health Campus (Public) (WA) 787 days — Western Hospital [Footscray] (VIC) 58
Ectropion - correction of 9 days — Peel Health Campus (WA) 367 days — Macksville District Hospital (NSW) 37
Endometrial ablation 25 days — Ballarat Health Services [Base Hospital] (VIC) 299 days — Blacktown Hospital (NSW) 27
Epididymal cyst - removal of 19 days — St Vincent's On the Park (VIC) 256 days — St George Hospital NSW (NSW) 5
Examination of eye under anaesthesia 8 days — Albury Wodonga Health [Wodonga Campus] (VIC) 52 days — John Hunter Hospital (NSW) 11
Exostosis - excision of 14 days — Flinders Medical Centre (SA) 342 days — Gosford Hospital (NSW) 9
Female sterilisation 5 days — Ballarat Health Services [Base Hospital] (VIC) 427 days — Gladstone Hospital (QLD) 53
Femoro-popliteal bypass graft 7 days — Townsville University Hospital (QLD) 59 days — Western Hospital [Footscray] (VIC) 13
Fracture non-union - treatment of 1 day — Concord Repatriation Hospital (NSW) 105 days — Perth Children's Hospital (WA) 47
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery 34 days — University Hospital Geelong (VIC) 510 days — Port Pirie Regional Health Service (SA) 64
Fundoplication 33 days — University Hospital Geelong (VIC) 277 days — Nepean Hospital (NSW) 27
Gallbladder removal 1 day — Thursday Island Hospital (QLD) 219 days — Campbelltown Hospital (NSW) 176
Ganglion - excision of 7 days — Ballarat Health Services [Base Hospital] (VIC) 371 days — Sydney Hospital / Sydney Eye Hospital (NSW) 42
Grommets 3 days — Derby Hospital (WA) 357 days — Wagga Wagga Hospital (NSW) 64
Haemorrhoid surgery 7 days — Ballarat Health Services [Base Hospital] (VIC) 320 days — Mater Adult Hospital (QLD) 109
Hammer/claw/mallet toe - correction of 11 days — Albury Wodonga Health [Wodonga Campus] (VIC) 354 days — Wollongong Hospital (NSW) 2
Heart valve replacement 1 day — Wollongong Hospital (NSW) 227 days — Royal Children's Hospital [Parkville] (VIC) 25
Hernia repair 18 days — Sandringham Hospital (VIC) 351 days — Liverpool Hospital (NSW) 169
Hip replacement 26 days — Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (NSW) 409 days — John Hunter Hospital (NSW) 123
Hydrocele - repair of 12 days — Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (NSW) 367 days — Campbelltown Hospital (NSW) 52
Hypospadias - repair of 48 days — Monash Medical Centre [Clayton] (VIC) 370 days — Campbelltown Hospital (NSW) 13
Hysterectomy 8 days — Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (VIC) 389 days — Albany Hospital (WA) 126
Inguinal hernia repair 7 days — Ballarat Health Services [Base Hospital] (VIC) 335 days — Macksville District Hospital (NSW) 186
Insertion of ventricular peritoneal shunt 6 days — Queensland Children's Hospital (QLD) 34 days — Wollongong Hospital (NSW) 7
Knee replacement 24 days — Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (NSW) 667 days — Albury Wodonga Health [Wodonga Campus] (VIC) 128
Laminectomy 21 days — Osborne Park Hospital (WA) 354 days — Wagga Wagga Hospital (NSW) 24
Laparoscopy 6 days — Royal Perth Hospital Wellington Street Campus (WA) 352 days — Dalby Hospital (QLD) 149
Lingual or maxillary frenulum surgery 10 days — Monash Medical Centre [Moorabbin] (VIC) 388 days — John Hunter Hospital (NSW) 18
Lithotripsy 8 days — Griffith Base Hospital (NSW) 176 days — The Bendigo Hospital (VIC) 49
LLETZ procedure 7 days — Peel Health Campus (WA) 197 days — Mercy Hospital for Women (VIC) 108
Lobectomy/wedge resection/pneumonectomy 7 days — St Vincent's Hospital [Darlinghurst] (NSW) 32 days — Liverpool Hospital (NSW) 28
Mastectomy 5 days — The Alfred (VIC) 49 days — Concord Repatriation Hospital (NSW) 97
Mastoidectomy 12 days — Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (NSW) 368 days — Royal Melbourne Hospital [City Campus] (VIC) 25
Meatoplasty 72 days — Sunshine Coast University Hospital (QLD) 112 days — Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital (QLD) 2
Meniscectomy 16 days — The Alfred (VIC) 297 days — Wollongong Hospital (NSW) 14
Microlaryngoscopy 6 days — Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (VIC) 88 days — The Children's Hospital at Westmead (NSW) 44
Muscle biopsy/temporal artery biopsy 2 days — Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (QLD) 105 days — Royal Melbourne Hospital [City Campus] (VIC) 10
Muscle or tendon length - change of 4 days — Royal Perth Hospital Wellington Street Campus (WA) 425 days — Royal Children's Hospital [Parkville] (VIC) 7
Myomectomy 34 days — Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (NSW) 148 days — Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital (QLD) 11
Myringotomy 1 day — Karratha Health Campus (WA) 357 days — Wagga Wagga Hospital (NSW) 80
Myringotomy (without insertion of grommets) 1 day — Karratha Health Campus (WA) 282 days — Maitland Hospital (NSW) 21
Nasendoscopy 11 days — Austin Hospital [Heidelberg] (VIC) 359 days — Wagga Wagga Hospital (NSW) 14
Nephrectomy 7 days — Queensland Children's Hospital (QLD) 97 days — Mater Adult Hospital (QLD) 57
Nerve decompression 21 days — Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (NSW) 411 days — Maitland Hospital (NSW) 17
Nerve decompression of spinal cord 33 days — Monash Medical Centre [Clayton] (VIC) 179 days — Royal Adelaide Hospital (SA) 3
Orchidectomy 4 days — Albury Wodonga Health [Wodonga Campus] (VIC) 42 days — Redcliffe Hospital (QLD) 23
Orchidopexy 7 days — Northern Beaches Hospital (NSW) 174 days — Gosford Hospital (NSW) 35
Osteotomy 20 days — The Alfred (VIC) 402 days — Royal Melbourne Hospital [City Campus] (VIC) 49
Parathyroidectomy 14 days — Latrobe Regional Hospital [Traralgon] (VIC) 312 days — Wagga Wagga Hospital (NSW) 47
Parotidectomy/submandibular gland - excision of 16 days — Royal North Shore Hospital (NSW) 177 days — Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital [Heidelberg West] (VIC) 54
Pectus surgery 4 days — Queensland Children's Hospital (QLD) 414 days — Fremantle Hospital and Health Service (WA) 4
Pedicle screw fusion 80 days — Austin Hospital [Heidelberg] (VIC) 125 days — Royal Adelaide Hospital (SA) 2
Pilonidal sinus surgery 1 day — St Vincent's Hospital [Darlinghurst] (NSW) 311 days — Mount Druitt Hospital (NSW) 46
Pleurodesis 6 days — Royal Melbourne Hospital [City Campus] (VIC) 23 days — Royal Adelaide Hospital (SA) 6
Probing of naso-lacrimal duct 8 days — Albury Wodonga Health [Wodonga Campus] (VIC) 329 days — The Children's Hospital at Westmead (NSW) 5
Prolapse repair 22 days — Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (NSW) 631 days — Rockingham General Hospital (WA) 66
Prostate biopsy 11 days — St John of God Midland Public Hospital (WA) 130 days — Monash Medical Centre [Moorabbin] (VIC) 90
Prostate surgery 15 days — Gawler Health Service (SA) 307 days — Port Pirie Regional Health Service (SA) 103
Pterygium - excision of 4 days — Thursday Island Hospital (QLD) 443 days — Liverpool Hospital (NSW) 65
Ptosis - repair of 18 days — St John of God Midland Public Hospital (WA) 779 days — Royal Children's Hospital [Parkville] (VIC) 30
Pyeloplasty/correction of ureteropelvic junction 21 days — Sydney Children's Hospital (NSW) 111 days — Mater Adult Hospital (QLD) 22
Radical neck dissection 7 days — Royal Adelaide Hospital (SA) 22 days — Liverpool Hospital (NSW) 17
Removal of intracranial lesion 8 days — Princess Alexandra Hospital (QLD) 38 days — Gold Coast University Hospital (QLD) 8
Repair of obstructing hiatus hernia 23 days — Sandringham Hospital (VIC) 399 days — Coffs Harbour Hospital (NSW) 41
Rhinoplasty 133 days — Osborne Park Hospital (WA) 1236 days — Box Hill Hospital (VIC) 15
Rotator cuff repair 18 days — Royal Melbourne Hospital [City Campus] (VIC) 434 days — Coffs Harbour Hospital (NSW) 40
Salpingo-oophorectomy/oophorectomy/ovarian cystectomy 9 days — Peel Health Campus (WA) 346 days — Blue Mountains Hospital (NSW) 100
Scar revision 5 days — The Alfred (VIC) 281 days — Liverpool Hospital (NSW) 29
Septoplasty 8 days — Port Lincoln Health Service (SA) 910 days — Box Hill Hospital (VIC) 103
Shoulder joint replacement 18 days — Western Hospital [Footscray] (VIC) 456 days — Bowral Hospital (NSW) 89
Shoulder reconstruction 10 days — Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital (QLD) 290 days — Gold Coast University Hospital (QLD) 32
Skin lesion removal 11 days — Collie Hospital (WA) 335 days — Campbelltown Hospital (NSW) 214
Squint surgery 40 days — Bunbury Hospital (WA) 387 days — Sydney Hospital / Sydney Eye Hospital (NSW) 25
Stapedectomy 119 days — The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital (VIC) 553 days — Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital [Heidelberg West] (VIC) 4
Stone/s urinary tract - removal of 13 days — Frankston Public Surgical Centre (VIC) 80 days — Campbelltown Hospital (NSW) 28
Stress incontinence surgery 37 days — Williamstown Hospital (VIC) 359 days — Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital (QLD) 9
Tendon release 1 day — Concord Repatriation Hospital (NSW) 332 days — Wagga Wagga Hospital (NSW) 26
Thyroglossal remnant - removal of 76 days — Gold Coast University Hospital (QLD) 137 days — Royal Children's Hospital [Parkville] (VIC) 5
Thyroidectomy/hemi-thyroidectomy 16 days — Latrobe Regional Hospital [Traralgon] (VIC) 464 days — Maitland Hospital (NSW) 95
Toenail surgery 6 days — Monash Medical Centre [Clayton] (VIC) 320 days — Mount Druitt Hospital (NSW) 43
Tonsillectomy 6 days — Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (VIC) 450 days — Port Pirie Regional Health Service (SA) 114
Trabeculectomy 9 days — St John of God Midland Public Hospital (WA) 147 days — Royal Hobart Hospital (TAS) 19
Trigger finger release 14 days — St Vincent's On the Park (VIC) 473 days — Sunshine Hospital (VIC) 65
Turbinectomy 21 days — Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (NSW) 729 days — Albury Wodonga Health [Wodonga Campus] (VIC) 24
Untethering of spinal cord 33 days — Queensland Children's Hospital (QLD) 131 days — Perth Children's Hospital (WA) 3
Ureteric - reimplantation 33 days — Flinders Medical Centre (SA) 106 days — Perth Children's Hospital (WA) 4
Ureteric stent - insertion of 1 day — Port Macquarie Base Hospital (NSW) 193 days — Redcliffe Hospital (QLD) 39
Urethra - dilatation of 14 days — Austin Hospital [Heidelberg] (VIC) 108 days — Dubbo Hospital (NSW) 14
Varicose vein surgery 14 days — St John of God Midland Public Hospital (WA) 714 days — Albury Wodonga Health [Wodonga Campus] (VIC) 64
Vitrectomy (including buckling/cryotherapy) 11 days — Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (NSW) 93 days — Fremantle Hospital and Health Service (WA) 25

What is not here

Public hospitals only. Private hospitals do not report to this collection, so their waiting times cannot be compared here.

A hospital doing very few of a surgery can publish an unusual median — how to read these figures.