MelbourneSurgery.com

Have you ever seen a glowing mushroom? 🍄

We're coming into ghost mushroom season (best spotted between March - August) where they can be found in many locations across Australia including in Canberra, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.

But the reason as to why the bioluminescent fungi glows in Australia is still up for debate with researchers calling it a "baffling" yet "magical" mystery.

https://ab.co/42u3lez

In Tasmania, some are waiting longer than six years to see neurosurgeons, while in parts of South Australia, doctors like gastroenterologists and ophthalmologists come with lists as long as five years.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-20/specialist-wait-times-blow-out-years-waiting-list/102232032
Specialty-Overall state wait time -Health service with longest wait

Hepatobiliary and Pancreas-1,005.2 days or 2.75 years-Melbourne Health 1,005.8 days or 2.76 years

Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery

819 days or 2.24 years

Austin Health 3,270.2 days or 8.96 years

Orthopaedics

769.10 days or 2.11 years

Mercy Health 2,070.8 days or 5.67 years

Plastic surgery-741.70 days or 2.03 years-Northern Health 1,334 days or 3.65 years

Ophthalmology

631 days or 1.73 years

Austin Health 1,378.4 days or 3.78 years

Dermatology

616 days or 1.69 years

Austin Health 2,622 days or 7.18 years

Immunology

534 days or 1.46 years

Austin Health 2,793 days or 7.65 years

Urology-470.90 days or 1.29 years-Bendigo Health 1,573.10 days or 4.3 years

Rheumatology

467.7 days or 1.28 years

St Vincent's Health 1,739.6 days or 4.77 years

Gynaecology

454 days or 1.24 years

Western Health 1,068 days or 2.92 years

A spokesperson for the Victoria government said in a statement that timely outpatient appointments were central to patients' long-term care needs and recovery.

"Even in the face of record demand driven by COVID, staff furloughing and deferred care — the most urgent patients always received care within the clinically recommended time," they said.

"Our $12 billion Pandemic Repair Plan is all about training and recruiting more staff, upgrading and building new hospitals and delivering more planned surgery – all of which will move patients through the system quicker, including outpatient services.

"We know there are shortages across Australia both in the public and private system, which us why we’re working with health services to improve their triage and referral processes, investing in training more specialists and boosting appointment numbers."

'The word heartbreaking comes up': Doctors call for action as Australians face years-long specialist waits Some Australians are staring down wait times of longer than six years to see crucial specialists including neurosurgeons, ear, nose and throat surgeons, and immunologists, as a prominent doctor warns people could die while waiting for care.