Waiting lists for elective surgery at ACT public hospitals have continued to grow with almost 850 people waiting longer than recommended during a three-month period.
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An ACT Health report said 4231 patients were on the waiting list for elective surgery during the first quarter of the financial year, a 7 per cent increase over the year.
Canberrans waiting longer than recommended for elective surgery also increased by 15 per cent to 849 during the September quarter, rising from 735 a year earlier.
One Canberran frustrated by the waiting list was 57-year-old Margot Sirr from Gowrie who was initially told to wait a year for surgery on a pronounced umbilical hernia.
Ms Sirr said her condition had limited her ability to live a healthy lifestyle with a piece of intestine protruding through an opening in her abdominal muscles.
"I went onto the waiting list about 56 days ago and I was told at one point by the Canberra Hospital that I had another 300 days to wait," she said.
"I thought this was pretty depressing but I guess you've just got to accept it and get on with things. I'm not the only one in this position as there are a lot of people with serious conditions on the waiting list."
Ms Sirr said the length of the waiting lists was "ludicrous" and caused her to despair for her former confidence.
The ACT Health report found that 381 patients waiting for orthopaedic surgery were not seen within the recommended time during the three-month period, compared with 189 waiting on ear, nose or throat surgery.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare statistics say the median wait for elective surgery in the ACT is now 48 days.
Despite figures still being above the national average of 36 days it is a significant reduction on the 74 day average recorded during 2010-11.
Despite resigning herself to waiting for up to a year for her surgery, Ms Sirr was one of the many who were delighted to be notified of a date earlier than expected.
"Just a few days ago I was contacted by a woman who said my operation had been scheduled for April at the Calvary Hospital and I would get a letter in the mail telling me what I had to do," she said.
"The prospect of being able to ride a horse again was so exciting as just being able to run was something I never thought I'd appreciate," she said.
Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson said the waiting lists needed to be shortened to improve health outcomes and reduce pressure on the hospital system.
"We need to make sure we never allow the lists to blow out because once you're behind you are always playing catch up and the consequence is thousands of people waiting longer for surgery than they should," he said.
