Figures released by Health Minister Jill Hennessy covering April to June this year show Bendigo patients waited a median of 469 days to see an ear, nose and throat specialist – the longest median wait in the state. In comparison, Peninsula Health patients faced a median wait of 16 days. 

A Bendigo Health spokesperson said the lengthy wait time was an “anomaly”, due to the fact both Bendigo Health ENT specialists took leave in that quarter. 

“This is highly unusual and significantly skewed our figures,” the spokesperson said. 

The lowest median wait time in the 2014-2015 financial year for Bendigo ENT appointments was 183 days. 

The spokesperson said Bendigo Health received about 100 new patient referrals to see an ENT specialist each month. 

“All urgent cases are scheduled for an outpatient appointment within 30 days,” the spokesperson said. 

The spokesperson said demand for Bendigo Health services was continuing to grow but the pressure was expected to be alleviated when the new hospital came online in 2017. 

The median wait time for general medicine was also the longest in the state at Bendigo Health at 93 days. 

Bendigo patients waited a median of 91 days for a gynaecology appointment – the second longest wait in Victoria – and 88 days for an orthopaedics or musculoskeletal visit. 

To see an oncology specialist, Bendigo patients waited a median of 13 days. The longest median wait in the state was 52 days at Mercy Public Hospitals. 

For an obstetric appointment, Bendigonians waited a median of 29 days. The longest median wait was 44 days and the shortest was 10 days.