Elective surgery waitlist blows out as SA hospitals buckle under pressure

Thousands of sick South Australians are still awaiting treatment as a spike in winter illnesses blows out elective surgery waitlists at public hospitals.

Scott Deen, 37, had a stoma bag fitted after he underwent emergency surgery last October.

"I had part of my large intestine leak inside of my bowel," he told 9News.

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"So I had to have emergency surgery."

Forced to cancel his wedding, Deen was told he'd only need the bag for six months while he recovered.

"Going out in public, dealing with that outside of your own home as well, it's very confronting, and it can definitely play on your mental health," he said.

He was told his procedure would be sometime in April or June, but months have passed and he's yet to secure a date to have it surgically removed.

"They don't have an answer at all they pretty much say 'we don't know what's happening, we can't give you any answer'," Deen said.

Deen is one of the 4443 overdue elective procedures across the state.

Of those procedures, 50 were postponed just yesterday. 

The waitlist blow out is partly due to a surge in winter illnesses, which is sending hundreds to hospital and filling up beds.

SA Salaried Medical Officers Association (SASMOA) chief industrial officer Bernadette Mulholland said the figures were disturbing but not surprising.

"It's really disturbing to see large numbers, waiting for, large numbers of patients waiting for elective surgery," Mulholland.

"But it's unsurprising given the lack of resources we currently have."

Mulholland said more attention needed to be given to preventative care, starting with GPs, to help reduce the strain on the public health system.

"Without a robust general practitioner support, we're already missing out on the first length that's really important for the healthcare of the community," she said.

SA Health has claimed Deen had asked to be taken off the waiting list in January so he could go on a holiday for three months.

Deen denied that claim and said he only notified the hospital he was going on a three-week holiday for communication purposes.

"There's frustration out there and people are waiting and something needs to be done about it," he said.