When Cancer Can’t Wait
Delaying surgery for cancer patients isn’t just poor management—it could cost lives.
Recent revelations about Orange Hospital have exposed a disturbing trend that’s left doctors and patients reeling: the re-categorisation of urgent cancer surgeries to lower priority levels, allegedly to meet waitlist targets. These allegations strike at the core of patient trust in a healthcare system that should prioritise health outcomes over paperwork.
Doctors at the hospital—including the current and former directors of surgery—have publicly voiced their concerns, stating that surgeries initially classified as Category One (requiring treatment within 30 days) were downgraded without medical justification. Some were reclassified as Category Four, suggesting the patient was “not ready for care”—a move that violates NSW Health policy unless a patient’s clinical condition has genuinely changed.
One courageous voice among the noise is Dr Rob Knox. He began documenting the discrepancies after questioning why his patients’ urgency levels had been altered without consultation. His findings sparked internal and now public scrutiny of the hospital’s handling of surgical waitlists.
This situation is more than a procedural error. Delaying cancer surgery by even four weeks can increase a patient’s risk of death by 5%. Cancer doesn’t pause for bureaucracy. It grows silently and relentlessly, regardless of hospital calendars or staff rosters.
What does this mean for patients?
First and foremost, it means they may be forced to advocate for their own care in a system designed to protect them. Patients like Katrina Reiss, a former hospital staff member who knew enough about the system to raise the alarm, are exceptions—not the norm. Most patients don’t have the same confidence, background knowledge, or medical literacy.
Others, faced with mounting anxiety and uncertainty, opt to leave the public system altogether. Surgeons report seeing patients remove themselves from public waitlists to seek private care—not because they can afford to, but because they feel they have no choice.
This creates a troubling divide in access to care and transparency. The so-called “hidden waitlist” refers to patients waiting months just to see a specialist, before they can even be added to the official surgical queue. At Orange Hospital, over 70% of patients wait more than a month for a specialist appointment, with some waiting an average of 70 days.
Who is being held accountable?
While NSW Health has promised to review the issue and affirmed that such practices should not occur, the question remains—how many patients were affected, and what happens next?
At The Law Office of Conrad Curry, we believe in holding institutions accountable when they fail to meet their duty of care. For patients and families impacted by delayed diagnosis or treatment, these delays may constitute medical negligence. If treatment has been postponed without valid clinical reasons and led to further harm, you may be entitled to compensation.
Your health should never be compromised by red tape.
We encourage anyone who has experienced a delay in urgent medical treatment—particularly for cancer or other serious conditions—to reach out. Navigating a claim against a healthcare provider can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Let us stand by you with compassion, expertise, and unwavering advocacy.
DISCLAIMER
This article reflects the current law at the time of publication. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The actual decisions in each case are summarised for general understanding. For specific legal guidance in relation to your situation, please consult with a qualified legal professional.
