---
title: "Where surgery waits rose and fell"
description: "The biggest year-on-year movements in published public hospital surgery waits, 2023–24 to 2024–25, by state and by hospital."
url: "https://surgerywaits.au/longest-waits/changes/"
---

# Where surgery waits rose and fell

The biggest state-level move from 2023–24 to 2024–25 was eardrum repair in South Australia: from 154 days to 316 days — up 162 days.

Reference period 2024–25 (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) · released 28 May 2026.

Both figures in every row are published medians — 2023–24 against 2024–25 — and a row only appears when the source published both years. The fourteen-year history behind each row is on the linked pages.

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.

## State medians that rose most

Biggest year-on-year rises in a state's published median wait, 2023–24 to 2024–25. Every figure was released on 2026-05-28.

| Surgery | State | Was | Now | Change |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Eardrum repair](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/eardrum-repair/sa/) | [South Australia](https://surgerywaits.au/state/sa/) | 154 days (2023–24) | 316 days (2024–25) | up 162 days |
| [Tonsillectomy](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/tonsillectomy/act/) | [Australian Capital Territory](https://surgerywaits.au/state/act/) | 156 days (2023–24) | 302 days (2024–25) | up 146 days |
| [Ganglion cyst removal](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/ganglion-excision-of/nsw/) | [New South Wales](https://surgerywaits.au/state/nsw/) | 145 days (2023–24) | 250 days (2024–25) | up 105 days |
| [Prolapse repair](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/prolapse-repair/sa/) | [South Australia](https://surgerywaits.au/state/sa/) | 127 days (2023–24) | 224 days (2024–25) | up 97 days |
| [Turbinate surgery (inside the nose)](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/turbinectomy/wa/) | [Western Australia](https://surgerywaits.au/state/wa/) | 146 days (2023–24) | 216 days (2024–25) | up 70 days |
| [Breast reconstruction](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/breast-reconstruction/nsw/) | [New South Wales](https://surgerywaits.au/state/nsw/) | 127 days (2023–24) | 194 days (2024–25) | up 67 days |
| [Droopy eyelid repair](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/ptosis-repair-of/wa/) | [Western Australia](https://surgerywaits.au/state/wa/) | 94 days (2023–24) | 151 days (2024–25) | up 57 days |
| [Female sterilisation](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/female-sterilisation/nsw/) | [New South Wales](https://surgerywaits.au/state/nsw/) | 213 days (2023–24) | 267 days (2024–25) | up 54 days |
| [Adenoid removal](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/adenoidectomy/tas/) | [Tasmania](https://surgerywaits.au/state/tas/) | 137 days (2023–24) | 191 days (2024–25) | up 54 days |
| [Congenital cardiac defect/s - procedure for](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/congenital-cardiac-defect-s-procedure-for/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 97 days (2023–24) | 151 days (2024–25) | up 54 days |
| [Eardrum repair](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/eardrum-repair/qld/) | [Queensland](https://surgerywaits.au/state/qld/) | 161 days (2023–24) | 210 days (2024–25) | up 49 days |
| [Prolapse repair](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/prolapse-repair/qld/) | [Queensland](https://surgerywaits.au/state/qld/) | 266 days (2023–24) | 313 days (2024–25) | up 47 days |
| [Circumcision](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/circumcision/sa/) | [South Australia](https://surgerywaits.au/state/sa/) | 56 days (2023–24) | 97 days (2024–25) | up 41 days |
| [Deviated septum surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/septoplasty/tas/) | [Tasmania](https://surgerywaits.au/state/tas/) | 230 days (2023–24) | 271 days (2024–25) | up 41 days |
| [Hydrocele surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/hydrocele-repair-of/nsw/) | [New South Wales](https://surgerywaits.au/state/nsw/) | 130 days (2023–24) | 170 days (2024–25) | up 40 days |

## State medians that fell most

Biggest year-on-year falls in a state's published median wait, 2023–24 to 2024–25.

| Surgery | State | Was | Now | Change |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Excess eyelid skin removal](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/blepharoplasty/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 356 days (2023–24) | 189 days (2024–25) | down 167 days |
| [Breast reconstruction](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/breast-reconstruction/qld/) | [Queensland](https://surgerywaits.au/state/qld/) | 312 days (2023–24) | 160 days (2024–25) | down 152 days |
| [Bunion surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/bunion-surgery/qld/) | [Queensland](https://surgerywaits.au/state/qld/) | 301 days (2023–24) | 168 days (2024–25) | down 133 days |
| [Breast reduction](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/breast-reduction/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 312 days (2023–24) | 182 days (2024–25) | down 130 days |
| [Keyhole sinus surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/functional-endoscopic-sinus-surgery/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 265 days (2023–24) | 140 days (2024–25) | down 125 days |
| [Eardrum repair](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/eardrum-repair/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 314 days (2023–24) | 207 days (2024–25) | down 107 days |
| [Deviated septum surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/septoplasty/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 377 days (2023–24) | 279 days (2024–25) | down 98 days |
| [Turbinate surgery (inside the nose)](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/turbinectomy/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 247 days (2023–24) | 157 days (2024–25) | down 90 days |
| [Shoulder decompression surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/acromioplasty-arthroscopy-shoulder-sub-acromial-decompression/nsw/) | [New South Wales](https://surgerywaits.au/state/nsw/) | 213 days (2023–24) | 127 days (2024–25) | down 86 days |
| [Bone realignment surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/osteotomy/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 277 days (2023–24) | 206 days (2024–25) | down 71 days |
| [Female sterilisation](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/female-sterilisation/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 145 days (2023–24) | 77 days (2024–25) | down 68 days |
| [Reflux surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/fundoplication/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 139 days (2023–24) | 71 days (2024–25) | down 68 days |
| [Varicose vein surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/varicose-vein-surgery/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 148 days (2023–24) | 80 days (2024–25) | down 68 days |
| [Rhinoplasty](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/rhinoplasty/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 671 days (2023–24) | 606 days (2024–25) | down 65 days |
| [Bunion surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/bunion-surgery/vic/) | [Victoria](https://surgerywaits.au/state/vic/) | 159 days (2023–24) | 95 days (2024–25) | down 64 days |

## Hospital waits that moved most

To keep small-number noise out, this table only includes hospital-and-surgery pairs with at least 50 surgeries in 2024–25. A hospital doing a handful of a procedure can swing hundreds of days without meaning much.

### Rose most

Biggest year-on-year rises in a hospital's published median wait, 2023–24 to 2024–25, pairs with at least 50 surgeries in 2024–25.

| Hospital | Surgery | State | Was | Now | Change |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Fremantle Hospital and Health Service](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/fremantle-hospital-and-health-service/pterygium-excision-of/) | [Pterygium (eye growth) removal](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/pterygium-excision-of/) | WA | 163 days (2023–24) | 433 days (2024–25) | up 270 days |
| [Sunshine Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/sunshine-hospital/carpal-tunnel-surgery/) | [Carpal tunnel surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/carpal-tunnel-surgery/) | VIC | 221 days (2023–24) | 482 days (2024–25) | up 261 days |
| [Maitland Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/maitland-hospital/carpal-tunnel-surgery/) | [Carpal tunnel surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/carpal-tunnel-surgery/) | NSW | 87 days (2023–24) | 340 days (2024–25) | up 253 days |
| [Bathurst Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/bathurst-base-hospital/carpal-tunnel-surgery/) | [Carpal tunnel surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/carpal-tunnel-surgery/) | NSW | 81 days (2023–24) | 331 days (2024–25) | up 250 days |
| [Blue Mountains Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/blue-mountains-hospital/laparoscopy/) | [Keyhole belly surgery (laparoscopy)](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/laparoscopy/) | NSW | 84 days (2023–24) | 325 days (2024–25) | up 241 days |
| [The Canberra Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/the-canberra-hospital/tonsillectomy/) | [Tonsillectomy](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/tonsillectomy/) | ACT | 158 days (2023–24) | 392 days (2024–25) | up 234 days |
| [The Queen Elizabeth Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/the-queen-elizabeth-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | [Cataract surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/cataract-surgery/) | SA | 149 days (2023–24) | 383 days (2024–25) | up 234 days |
| [Mount Druitt Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/mount-druitt-hospital/hernia-repair/) | [Hernia repair](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/hernia-repair/) | NSW | 94 days (2023–24) | 327 days (2024–25) | up 233 days |
| [Bathurst Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/bathurst-base-hospital/hip-replacement/) | [Hip replacement](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/hip-replacement/) | NSW | 93 days (2023–24) | 322 days (2024–25) | up 229 days |
| [Mater Adult Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/mater-adult-hospital/tonsillectomy/) | [Tonsillectomy](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/tonsillectomy/) | QLD | 64 days (2023–24) | 293 days (2024–25) | up 229 days |
| [Flinders Medical Centre](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/flinders-medical-centre/adenoidectomy/) | [Adenoid removal](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/adenoidectomy/) | SA | 112 days (2023–24) | 334 days (2024–25) | up 222 days |
| [Mount Druitt Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/mount-druitt-hospital/inguinal-hernia-repair/) | [Inguinal hernia repair](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/inguinal-hernia-repair/) | NSW | 106 days (2023–24) | 314 days (2024–25) | up 208 days |
| [Orange Health Service](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/orange-health-service/hernia-repair/) | [Hernia repair](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/hernia-repair/) | NSW | 95 days (2023–24) | 298 days (2024–25) | up 203 days |
| [Campbelltown Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/campbelltown-hospital/hysterectomy/) | [Hysterectomy](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/hysterectomy/) | NSW | 104 days (2023–24) | 305 days (2024–25) | up 201 days |
| [Fremantle Hospital and Health Service](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/fremantle-hospital-and-health-service/tonsillectomy/) | [Tonsillectomy](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/tonsillectomy/) | WA | 193 days (2023–24) | 393 days (2024–25) | up 200 days |

### Fell most

Biggest year-on-year falls in a hospital's published median wait, 2023–24 to 2024–25, pairs with at least 50 surgeries in 2024–25.

| Hospital | Surgery | State | Was | Now | Change |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Frankston Public Surgical Centre](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/frankston-public-surgical-centre/varicose-vein-surgery/) | [Varicose vein surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/varicose-vein-surgery/) | VIC | 747 days (2023–24) | 76 days (2024–25) | down 671 days |
| [Monash Medical Centre \[Clayton\]](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/monash-medical-centre-clayton/varicose-vein-surgery/) | [Varicose vein surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/varicose-vein-surgery/) | VIC | 512 days (2023–24) | 34 days (2024–25) | down 478 days |
| [Austin Hospital \[Heidelberg\]](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/austin-hospital-heidelberg/functional-endoscopic-sinus-surgery/) | [Keyhole sinus surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/functional-endoscopic-sinus-surgery/) | VIC | 474 days (2023–24) | 49 days (2024–25) | down 425 days |
| [St Vincent's On the Park](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/st-vincents-on-the-park/septoplasty/) | [Deviated septum surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/septoplasty/) | VIC | 428 days (2023–24) | 66 days (2024–25) | down 362 days |
| [St Vincent's Hospital \[Melbourne\]](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/st-vincents-hospital-melbourne/septoplasty/) | [Deviated septum surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/septoplasty/) | VIC | 605 days (2023–24) | 245 days (2024–25) | down 360 days |
| [Albury Wodonga Health \[Wodonga Campus\]](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/albury-wodonga-health-wodonga-campus/hip-replacement/) | [Hip replacement](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/hip-replacement/) | VIC | 595 days (2023–24) | 247 days (2024–25) | down 348 days |
| [Royal Melbourne Hospital \[City Campus\]](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/royal-melbourne-hospital-city-campus/functional-endoscopic-sinus-surgery/) | [Keyhole sinus surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/functional-endoscopic-sinus-surgery/) | VIC | 495 days (2023–24) | 151 days (2024–25) | down 344 days |
| [Box Hill Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/box-hill-hospital/functional-endoscopic-sinus-surgery/) | [Keyhole sinus surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/functional-endoscopic-sinus-surgery/) | VIC | 571 days (2023–24) | 241 days (2024–25) | down 330 days |
| [Royal Melbourne Hospital \[City Campus\]](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/royal-melbourne-hospital-city-campus/osteotomy/) | [Bone realignment surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/osteotomy/) | VIC | 687 days (2023–24) | 402 days (2024–25) | down 285 days |
| [North Canberra Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/north-canberra-hospital/septoplasty/) | [Deviated septum surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/septoplasty/) | ACT | 585 days (2023–24) | 317 days (2024–25) | down 268 days |
| [Casey Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/casey-hospital/eardrum-repair/) | [Eardrum repair](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/eardrum-repair/) | VIC | 396 days (2023–24) | 144 days (2024–25) | down 252 days |
| [Lyell McEwin Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/lyell-mcewin-hospital/knee-replacement/) | [Knee replacement](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/knee-replacement/) | SA | 359 days (2023–24) | 114 days (2024–25) | down 245 days |
| [Liverpool Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/liverpool-hospital/laminectomy/) | [Spinal bone removal (laminectomy)](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/laminectomy/) | NSW | 326 days (2023–24) | 86 days (2024–25) | down 240 days |
| [Flinders Medical Centre](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/flinders-medical-centre/functional-endoscopic-sinus-surgery/) | [Keyhole sinus surgery](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/functional-endoscopic-sinus-surgery/) | SA | 330 days (2023–24) | 116 days (2024–25) | down 214 days |
| [Mackay Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/mackay-base-hospital/hip-replacement/) | [Hip replacement](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/hip-replacement/) | QLD | 395 days (2023–24) | 184 days (2024–25) | down 211 days |

## What is not here

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

A one-year move is not a trend — every linked page carries the full history back to 2011–12.

## Before you use these figures

Surgery Waits is not medical advice. It republishes official statistics about waiting times that have already happened, and it does not recommend any hospital, doctor or treatment. Your general practitioner (GP) and your treating specialist are the right people to help you decide what is appropriate for you.

**In an emergency call 000.**

Waiting-time figures: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare MyHospitals, licensed under [CC BY 3.0 AU](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/). Quarterly state figures: Queensland Health. Suburb and locality data: Australian Bureau of Statistics. Both licensed under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Surgery Waits is not connected with any of these organisations.

Surgery Waits is published by [National Digital](https://nationaldigital.com.au/).

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This is the Markdown copy of https://surgerywaits.au/longest-waits/changes/.