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By the end of this financial year, The Queensland Government will have expedited the care of more than 30, 000 public patients, to stabilise the statewide elective surgery waiting list, thanks to a $1.75 billion investment, which includes the Surgery Connect program.
Established in 2008, Surgery Connect leverages relationships with 58 private providers, who deliver surgery for public patients, particularly those at risk of waiting longer than clinically recommended.
Kaleigh Leggett, Senior Director, says the initiative caters to all surgical specialities and categories.
“We accept categories one through to three for elective surgery, and four through to nine gastroenterology, following the National categorisation guidelines.
“We do a myriad of surgeries including ophthalmology, urology, orthopaedics, gynaecology, neurology, cardiac. There’s pretty much nothing we don’t do,” she said.
Success is built into the program, she adds, with private providers encouraged not to accept public patients, unless they can treat them within timeframes, as determined under the Standing Offer Arrangement.
“We’re not about moving people from one waiting list to another. It is agreed with providers from the outset that, if they are taking on a category two patient, that they will need to treat them within 60 days – or 90 days if it’s a category three,” she said.
“This ensures a safety net for public hospitals from a capacity standpoint. It captures all clinically appropriate patients and allows them to flow into the private sector, wherever there is capacity available.”
While all specialities have benefited from the scheme, services such as ophthalmology, ENT, orthopaedics and gastroenterology have been in especially high demand.
“This year, demand for these specialties has been enormous, so patients on these waiting lists are understandably grateful for the Surgery Connect program.
“By channelling patients from these hotspots into the private system, we have enabled each and every one of them to be on a straight-line path to treatment.”
How does the model work?
The programme is supported by a standing offer arrangement between private providers and the Queensland Government’s Department of Health.
The contract is entered into via an AQ tender process for a three-year term, plus two twelve-month extensions, established in 2021 with the final 12-month extension option approved from 31 October 2025.
Throughout the contract, Ms Leggett works closely with Hospital and Health Services to ensure they are referring the right type of patient.
“Consideration as to where a publicly referred patient will receive treatment is determined by the services they offer and their clinical services capabilities’ framework, ensuring that the facility has the means to provide the surgical care requirements such as HDU or ICU if required.
“We also ensure patients that are referred fall within the BMI and age inclusion criteria that are stipulated by the private provider.”
Negotiating the best rates
Surgery Connect operates under a bundled case payment, based on diagnostic related groups (DRGs).
“We strive to ensure that the rates negotiated with private providers are competitive to market.
“We wrap everything up into a bundled case payment per diagnostic group, inclusive of preoperative, operative, and post operative requirements for the patient.
“Costs for workforce including surgeon and anaesthetist are included in the bundle payment and rates for these staff are determined by the private providers out of that bundled case payment”.
12 hospital and health services across Queensland refer patients from their elective surgery waiting lists into the program, with 58 private facilities accepting these referrals for treatment.
Ironing out challenges
So far, public sentiment towards the scheme has been positive, with patients sharing their gratitude for accessing care under the program.
Despite this success, Ms Leggett admits there are challenges in servicing non-metropolitan areas.
“With any programme, the more regional and rural you go, you’ll find workforce constraints.
“In these areas, you’re often using the same workforce that works publicly, privately. So, it’s about stabilising that public workforce, to ensure you aren’t leaning too heavily on the private sector. All this involves lots of conversations – and it’s definitely something on our radar.”
To minimise the impact of workforce issues, Ms Leggett and team meet regularly with the Executive, General Managers and operational staff of public health and private facilities.
“We have quarterly business reviews with key stakeholders to discuss what their capacity looks like, whether or not they have the workforce to support that capacity, and whether or not they can treat patients within the necessary time frame.”
Further insight
Sharing more on what Surgery Connect is doing to future proof its success, Kaleigh Leggett will present at the upcoming Short Stay Hospital Forum, held 30-31 July at the Rendezvous Melbourne.
Learn more and register your place here.
About Kaleigh Leggett
Kaleigh Leggett is the Senior Director of the Surgery Connect program for the Department of Health in Queensland. She is a registered Nurse with more than 25 years’ experience in the acute care setting, specifically, within perioperative services. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing from CQU and a Graduate Certificate in Health Service Innovation from QUT .
Kaleigh is passionate about health equity and is an advocate for system reform to better access to services so patients can receive the care they need when they need it and without delay.
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