Total number of urgent (Category 1) patients waiting for elective surgery for less than 30 days at the end of the reporting period. Patients who are 'not ready for surgery' and those waiting for a non-surgical procedure are excluded.
Elective surgery is surgery that, in the opinion of the treating clinician, is necessary and admission for which can be delayed for at least twenty-four hours.
For urgent (Category 1) patients, admission within 30 days is desirable for a condition that has the potential to deteriorate quickly to the point that it might become an emergency.
Victorian Health Services Performance