Elective hip and knee-replacement surgery in Australian public hospitals

The journal, Australian Health Review has recently published an open access article on the waiting lists for elective surgery and the problems caused for our health systems.
“The progression through elective surgery waiting lists can be likened to a game of snakes and ladders where barriers (snakes) delay access to surgery and facilitators (ladders) expedite access. The aim of the present study was to describe the barriers and facilitators to delivery of total hip- and total knee-replacement surgery in South Australian public-funded hospitals.” (from article abstract)
Snakes and ladders: the barriers and facilitators of elective hip- and knee-replacement surgery in Australian public hospitals by Julie L. Walters A, Shylie F. Mackintosh A and Lorraine Sheppard. 2013.
Australian Health Review 37(2) 166-171