New data on waiting times for public hospital care also shows some people with "urgent referrals" for problems such as suspected cancer are waiting months to see a specialist doctor, even though "urgent surgery" is meant to be done within 30 days to meet government targets.

For people with "routine referrals", the report showed multi-year-long waits for appointments with neurosurgeons, ear, nose and throat surgeons, eye surgeons and urologists.

In a finding likely to drive some people to private health insurance, the report said some people with a "routine referral" to an ear, nose and throat surgeon waited longer than 1697 days (4.5 years) at the Royal Melbourne Hospital last year. Other patients waited 1240 days (three years) to see one at Geelong Hospital. This data reflects the 10 per cent of people experiencing the longest waits for those specialists.

The report, published by the Victorian government on Monday afternoon, also revealed that 10 per cent of people with a routine referral waited:

• More than 1247 days (3.5 years) to see a general surgeon at Ballarat Hospital.
• More than 1218 days (3.3 years) to see an ophthalmologist at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
• 1099 days (three years) to see a neurosurgeon at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
• More than 733 days (two years) to see a kidney specialist at the Austin Hospital
• More than 744 days (two years) at Ballarat Hospital, 735 days at the Austin (two years) and 451 days at Bendigo Hospital (1.2 years) to see an orthopedic surgeon.

For people with urgent referrals, the report said 10 per cent or more waited:

• More than 196 days (6.5 months) to see a urologist at the Austin Hospital.  
• More than  227 days (7.5 months) to see an ophthalmologist at Ballarat Hospital.
• More than 191 days (six months) to see a gynaecologist at Eastern Health, which includes Box Hill Hospital.
• More than 125 days (four months) to see a neurologist at the Northern Hospital.

Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy said other data released on Monday  showed improvements in ambulance response times and emergency care. However, she acknowledged more needed to be done to improve waiting times for health care across the state.

"After four years of cuts and neglect under the former Liberal government, we are finally starting to see improvements with more patients being treated faster – but we know we have more to do," she said.

Opposition health spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge said the report revealed a crisis.

"Daniel Andrews needs to explain to Victorians how he is going to fix his crisis in waiting times for Victorians needing surgery instead of always looking to blame others," she said.