Victoria delivers a record number of planned surgeries

Victoria has delivered a record number of planned surgeries for the third year in a row, helping more Victorians get the care they need sooner.

Over the past year, Victorian public hospitals delivered 218,000 planned surgeries, the highest number on record.

The latest quarterly performance data shows 57,297 patients received planned surgery between April and June 2026, the second-highest number of patients treated in a quarter since records began and up 14.7 per cent on the previous quarter.

Importantly, 100 per cent of Category 1 patients continued to be treated within the recommended 30-day timeframe.

These results reflect the dedication of Victoria's healthcare workers and reforms being delivered through the Planned Surgery Reform Blueprint. Initiatives are helping more patients receive treatment and return home on the same day where clinically appropriate, providing alternatives to surgery when appropriate and improving patient flow through hospitals.

This record result has been achieved despite growing demand for planned care, driven by population growth, an ageing population and increasing patient complexity.

Health services also continued to manage record demand across the broader system, with emergency departments managing a record 513,816 presentations during the quarter and more than two million presentations across the financial year.

Thank you to the doctors, nurses, surgeons, allied health professionals, support staff and health workers whose commitment ensures more Victorians get the surgery they need, sooner.