---
title: "Cataract surgery waiting times in New South Wales"
description: "Public hospitals in New South Wales ranked by median wait for Cataract surgery in 2024–25."
url: "https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/cataract-surgery/nsw/"
---

# Cataract surgery waiting times in New South Wales

The median wait for cataract surgery in New South Wales public hospitals was **268 days** in 2024–25 (AIHW MyHospitals, released 28 May 2026). The national median was **106 days**. The source publishes this surgery as "Cataract extraction (with or without intra-ocular lens insertion)".

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

50 public hospitals in New South Wales reported cataract surgery in 2024–25. They are ranked by their published median wait alone, shortest first.

**[Compare this near you →](https://surgerywaits.au/)** On the compare page, pick "Cataract extraction (with or without intra-ocular lens insertion)" and type your suburb to see the public hospitals within reach, ordered by their published wait. Nothing you type there is kept.

3 hospitals have no published median wait for this surgery in this period. They are listed last, marked "not published", and are never ranked.

Bars show the median wait in days. The vertical line at 106 days marks the national median.

- [Concord Repatriation Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/concord-repatriation-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 36 days
- [Royal Prince Alfred Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/royal-prince-alfred-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 44 days
- [The Children's Hospital at Westmead](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/the-childrens-hospital-at-westmead/cataract-surgery/): 44 days
- [Muswellbrook Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/muswellbrook-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 62 days
- [Gloucester Soldiers' Memorial Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/gloucester-soldiers-memorial-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 67 days
- [Hawkesbury Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/hawkesbury-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 77 days
- [Port Macquarie Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/port-macquarie-base-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 82 days
- [Griffith Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/griffith-base-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 90 days
- [Wyong Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/wyong-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 93 days
- [Lismore Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/lismore-base-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 106 days
- [Belmont Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/belmont-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 111 days
- [Prince of Wales Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/prince-of-wales-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 134 days
- [Mudgee Health Service](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/mudgee-health-service/cataract-surgery/): 138 days
- [Murwillumbah District Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/murwillumbah-district-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 138 days
- [Goulburn Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/goulburn-base-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 169 days
- [Manning Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/manning-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 169 days
- [Lachlan Health Service - Forbes](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/lachlan-health-service-forbes/cataract-surgery/): 182 days
- [Gosford Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/gosford-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 183 days
- [Sutherland Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/sutherland-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 200 days
- [Dubbo Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/dubbo-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 201 days
- [Bowral Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/bowral-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 204 days
- [Liverpool Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/liverpool-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 204 days
- [Kempsey District Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/kempsey-district-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 208 days
- [Moree Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/moree-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 217 days
- [Broken Hill Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/broken-hill-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 222 days
- [Lithgow Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/lithgow-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 231 days
- [Batemans Bay Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/batemans-bay-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 233 days
- [Bourke Multi Purpose Service](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/bourke-multi-purpose-service/cataract-surgery/): 238 days
- [Armidale Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/armidale-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 269 days
- [Auburn Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/auburn-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 280 days
- [Blue Mountains Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/blue-mountains-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 281 days
- [Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/bankstown-lidcombe-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 307 days
- [Inverell Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/inverell-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 313 days
- [Campbelltown Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/campbelltown-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 317 days
- [Shellharbour Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/shellharbour-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 319 days
- [Kurri Kurri Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/kurri-kurri-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 327 days
- [Bathurst Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/bathurst-base-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 330 days
- [South East Regional Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/south-east-regional-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 330 days
- [Tamworth Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/tamworth-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 331 days
- [Orange Health Service](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/orange-health-service/cataract-surgery/): 335 days
- [Wagga Wagga Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/wagga-wagga-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 338 days
- [Cowra Health Service](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/cowra-health-service/cataract-surgery/): 339 days
- [Westmead Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/westmead-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 351 days
- [Sydney Hospital / Sydney Eye Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/sydney-hospital-sydney-eye-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 353 days
- [Grafton Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/grafton-base-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 354 days
- [Royal North Shore Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/royal-north-shore-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 354 days
- [Macksville District Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/macksville-district-hospital/cataract-surgery/): 366 days
- [John Hunter Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/john-hunter-hospital/cataract-surgery/): not published
- [Nepean Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/nepean-hospital/cataract-surgery/): not published
- [Sydney Children's Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/sydney-childrens-hospital/cataract-surgery/): not published

Cataract extraction (with or without intra-ocular lens insertion) in New South Wales public hospitals, 2024–25. Hospitals with the same median share a rank and the next rank is skipped. Every figure was released on 2026-05-28.

| Rank | Hospital | Median wait | Waited more than 365 days | Surgeries |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Concord Repatriation Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/concord-repatriation-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 36 days | 0.0% | 705 surgeries |
| 2 | [Royal Prince Alfred Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/royal-prince-alfred-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 44 days | 0.0% | 641 surgeries |
| 2 | [The Children's Hospital at Westmead](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/the-childrens-hospital-at-westmead/cataract-surgery/) | 44 days | not published | 13 surgeries |
| 4 | [Muswellbrook Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/muswellbrook-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 62 days | 0.0% | 261 surgeries |
| 5 | [Gloucester Soldiers' Memorial Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/gloucester-soldiers-memorial-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 67 days | 0.0% | 864 surgeries |
| 6 | [Hawkesbury Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/hawkesbury-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 77 days | not published | 21 surgeries |
| 7 | [Port Macquarie Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/port-macquarie-base-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 82 days | 4.6% | 175 surgeries |
| 8 | [Griffith Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/griffith-base-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 90 days | 0.0% | 59 surgeries |
| 9 | [Wyong Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/wyong-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 93 days | 1.3% | 1888 surgeries |
| 10 | [Lismore Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/lismore-base-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 106 days | 28.4% | 1174 surgeries |
| 11 | [Belmont Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/belmont-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 111 days | 10.8% | 213 surgeries |
| 12 | [Prince of Wales Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/prince-of-wales-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 134 days | 26.2% | 84 surgeries |
| 13 | [Mudgee Health Service](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/mudgee-health-service/cataract-surgery/) | 138 days | 0.0% | 212 surgeries |
| 13 | [Murwillumbah District Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/murwillumbah-district-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 138 days | 11.8% | 642 surgeries |
| 15 | [Goulburn Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/goulburn-base-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 169 days | 0.0% | 344 surgeries |
| 15 | [Manning Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/manning-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 169 days | 18.2% | 66 surgeries |
| 17 | [Lachlan Health Service - Forbes](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/lachlan-health-service-forbes/cataract-surgery/) | 182 days | 2.7% | 262 surgeries |
| 18 | [Gosford Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/gosford-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 183 days | not published | 10 surgeries |
| 19 | [Sutherland Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/sutherland-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 200 days | 6.1% | 247 surgeries |
| 20 | [Dubbo Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/dubbo-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 201 days | 6.6% | 572 surgeries |
| 21 | [Bowral Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/bowral-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 204 days | 3.9% | 489 surgeries |
| 21 | [Liverpool Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/liverpool-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 204 days | 35.4% | 616 surgeries |
| 23 | [Kempsey District Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/kempsey-district-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 208 days | 0.6% | 781 surgeries |
| 24 | [Moree Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/moree-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 217 days | 10.6% | 132 surgeries |
| 25 | [Broken Hill Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/broken-hill-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 222 days | 14.2% | 232 surgeries |
| 26 | [Lithgow Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/lithgow-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 231 days | 0.0% | 300 surgeries |
| 27 | [Batemans Bay Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/batemans-bay-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 233 days | 15.4% | 344 surgeries |
| 28 | [Bourke Multi Purpose Service](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/bourke-multi-purpose-service/cataract-surgery/) | 238 days | 3.9% | 155 surgeries |
| 29 | [Armidale Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/armidale-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 269 days | 9.8% | 326 surgeries |
| 30 | [Auburn Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/auburn-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 280 days | 26.2% | 466 surgeries |
| 31 | [Blue Mountains Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/blue-mountains-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 281 days | 3.0% | 539 surgeries |
| 32 | [Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/bankstown-lidcombe-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 307 days | 17.4% | 737 surgeries |
| 33 | [Inverell Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/inverell-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 313 days | 13.1% | 252 surgeries |
| 34 | [Campbelltown Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/campbelltown-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 317 days | 17.1% | 1019 surgeries |
| 35 | [Shellharbour Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/shellharbour-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 319 days | 22.5% | 2596 surgeries |
| 36 | [Kurri Kurri Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/kurri-kurri-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 327 days | 25.5% | 2294 surgeries |
| 37 | [Bathurst Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/bathurst-base-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 330 days | 0.2% | 425 surgeries |
| 37 | [South East Regional Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/south-east-regional-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 330 days | 1.2% | 343 surgeries |
| 39 | [Tamworth Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/tamworth-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 331 days | 14.8% | 1051 surgeries |
| 40 | [Orange Health Service](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/orange-health-service/cataract-surgery/) | 335 days | 13.0% | 586 surgeries |
| 41 | [Wagga Wagga Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/wagga-wagga-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 338 days | 27.8% | 687 surgeries |
| 42 | [Cowra Health Service](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/cowra-health-service/cataract-surgery/) | 339 days | 23.0% | 187 surgeries |
| 43 | [Westmead Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/westmead-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 351 days | 44.6% | 1774 surgeries |
| 44 | [Sydney Hospital / Sydney Eye Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/sydney-hospital-sydney-eye-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 353 days | 41.1% | 4574 surgeries |
| 45 | [Grafton Base Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/grafton-base-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 354 days | 40.8% | 764 surgeries |
| 45 | [Royal North Shore Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/royal-north-shore-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 354 days | 39.8% | 1118 surgeries |
| 47 | [Macksville District Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/macksville-district-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | 366 days | 50.1% | 1443 surgeries |
| unranked | [John Hunter Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/john-hunter-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | not published | not published | 8 surgeries |
| unranked | [Nepean Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/nepean-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | not published | not published | not published |
| unranked | [Sydney Children's Hospital](https://surgerywaits.au/hospital/sydney-childrens-hospital/cataract-surgery/) | not published | not published | not published |

Ranked by area in New South Wales: [near Camperdown](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/cataract-surgery/near/camperdown/) · [near Gosford](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/cataract-surgery/near/gosford/) · [near Liverpool](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/cataract-surgery/near/liverpool/) · [near Randwick](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/cataract-surgery/near/randwick/) · [near Westmead](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/cataract-surgery/near/westmead/).

**Cite this page**

> The median wait for cataract surgery in New South Wales public hospitals was 268 days in 2024–25 (AIHW MyHospitals, released 28 May 2026).

### Copy-ready citation

```
Surgery Waits, "Cataract surgery waiting times in New South Wales", 2024–25 data released 28 May 2026, https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/cataract-surgery/nsw/, accessed 28 May 2026.
```

Attribution: Surgery Waits ([https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/cataract-surgery/nsw/](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/cataract-surgery/nsw/)), from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare MyHospitals data, CC BY 3.0 AU. Reference period 2024–25, released 28 May 2026.

## What is not here

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

Waiting times differ across state borders, and a referral can cross one — [read what that means](https://surgerywaits.au/guides/referral-to-another-hospital/). Compare with [every other state](https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/cataract-surgery/), or see [every surgery reported in New South Wales](https://surgerywaits.au/state/nsw/).

## 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/).

* * *

This is the Markdown copy of https://surgerywaits.au/surgery/cataract-surgery/nsw/.