NSW Health audit finds 20,000 overdue endoscopy tests, prompts $17m intervention

Minister says funding will open up appointments as quickly as possible

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources3 outlets

The NSW Labor government will expedite endoscopy procedures after a preliminary audit found at least 20,000 overdue tests in the public health system, raising concerns about delayed cancer diagnoses. Health Minister Ryan Park announced $17 million in funding to boost capacity, starting with the most urgent cases.

The audit, commissioned after clinicians and patients raised concerns about endoscopy waiting times, collected data from across the public system for the first time. Preliminary figures show 20,000 procedures could be overdue, with final figures still to be validated.

Endoscopy is used to investigate, diagnose and monitor a range of health conditions, including examining symptoms affecting the digestive system and investigating possible bowel disease, including cancer. Cancer Council NSW figures show bowel cancer is the second most deadly cancer in the state.

Waiting times for endoscopies have been a long-standing challenge because of growing demand, an ageing population and increasing referrals through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

About 350,000 endoscopies are performed in NSW each year across public and private facilities, including 160,000 through NSW Health. On top of the funding boost, work is under way to centrally monitor endoscopy waiting times.

Health Minister Ryan Park said NSW Health had acted on the concerns of patients and clinicians. "I know that Health has been working over several months to collect this data and undertake the necessary planning to accelerate through these procedures, and now I want to see this funding opening up endoscopy appointments as quickly as possible," Park said.

The minister said the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program had been "enormously important" in early detection while also contributing to increased demand. "We know that early detection is vital. Bowel cancer is one of the most treatable cancers when detected early, so people who receive a positive screening result need timely access to the follow-up care they need," he said.

Separately, Canterbury Hospital began urgently contacting patients overdue for surgeries after admission referrals were found in an unmonitored inbox months after they were sent. A review found 16 overdue patient referrals, including four category 1 patients overdue for surgery that should have been performed within 30 days, and 12 category 2 semi-urgent patients overdue for procedures that should have been performed within 90 days.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Delayed endoscopies can mean missed or later diagnoses of bowel cancer, the second deadliest cancer in NSW, affecting patient outcomes.
The $17 million funding and new central monitoring aim to clear the backlog and prevent future build-ups, but final figures could be higher, straining hospital resources.
The Canterbury Hospital inbox issue highlights systemic failures in patient referral management that may extend beyond that facility.

Background

Endoscopy waiting times have been a persistent pressure point for NSW public hospitals, driven by an ageing population, rising demand, and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, which generates more follow-up referrals. Until now, waiting times were not centrally monitored, making the full extent of backlogs unclear. The preliminary audit is the first attempt to quantify overdue procedures across the system.

What to Watch

The final validated figures, which could revise the 20,000 estimate up or down and may trigger further funding.
The rollout of central monitoring and its impact on reducing wait times for endoscopy.
Any broader review of hospital referral systems following the Canterbury Hospital inbox issue.

Sources

NSW Health audit finds 20,000 overdue endoscopy tests after warnings · WAtoday
NSW Health audit finds 20,000 overdue endoscopy tests after warnings · Brisbane Times
NSW Health audit finds 20,000 overdue endoscopy tests after warnings · The Sydney Morning Herald

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

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SupportedPark said he wanted the funding to open up endoscopy appointments as quickly as possible.WA Today - Latest News: ““I know that Health has been working over several months to collect this data and undertake the necessary planning to accelerate through these procedures, and now I want to see this funding opening up endoscopy appointments as quickly as possible,” Park said.”
SupportedPark described the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program as “enormously important” in early detection.WA Today - Latest News: “Park said the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program had been “enormously important” in the early detection of bowel cancer, while also contributing to increased demand for endoscopy services.”
SupportedPark said early detection is vital and people with positive screening results need timely follow-up care.WA Today - Latest News: ““We know that early detection is vital. Bowel cancer is one of the most treatable cancers when detected early, so people who receive a positive screening result need timely access to the follow-up care they need,” he said.”
Partly supportedThe headline says an audit found 20,000 overdue tests and prompted a $17 million intervention.WA Today - Latest News: “Preliminary figures show 20,000 endoscopy procedures could be overdue, with final figures still to be validated. The government will spend $17 million boosting endoscopy capacity beginning with the most urgent cases.”
SupportedThe summary says the minister expects funding to open up appointments as quickly as possible.WA Today - Latest News: ““I know that Health has been working over several months to collect this data and undertake the necessary planning to accelerate through these procedures, and now I want to see this funding opening up endoscopy appointments as quickly as possible,” Park said.”
SupportedA preliminary audit found at least 20,000 overdue tests in the public system, raising concerns about delayed cancer diagnoses.WA Today - Latest News: “The NSW Labor government will expedite endoscopy procedures after a preliminary audit found at least 20,000 overdue tests in the public health system, which could be delaying cancer diagnoses.”
Partly supportedRyan Park announced $17 million in funding to boost capacity, starting with the most urgent cases.WA Today - Latest News: “The government will spend $17 million boosting endoscopy capacity beginning with the most urgent cases.”
Partly supportedThe audit was commissioned after clinicians and patients raised concerns about endoscopy waiting times.WA Today - Latest News: “The intervention follows discussion with clinicians and patients about endoscopy waiting times, which prompted NSW Health to collect data from across the public system.”
Partly supportedThe audit collected data across the public system for the first time.WA Today - Latest News: “The intervention follows discussion with clinicians and patients about endoscopy waiting times, which prompted NSW Health to collect data from across the public system. It has not previously been monitored centrally.”
SupportedAbout 350,000 endoscopies are performed annually in NSW across public and private facilities, including 160,000 through NSW Health.WA Today - Latest News: “About 350,000 endoscopies are performed in NSW each year across public and private facilities, including 160,000 through NSW Health.”
SupportedCanterbury Hospital began urgently contacting patients overdue for surgery after referrals were found in an unmonitored inbox months after they were sent.WA Today - Latest News: “Canterbury Hospital began urgently contacting patients who are overdue for surgeries after their admission referrals were found in an unmonitored inbox months after they were sent.”
SupportedThe review found 16 overdue referrals: four category 1 patients overdue for surgery due within 30 days and 12 category 2 patients overdue for procedures due within 90 days.WA Today - Latest News: “The review found 16 overdue patient referrals: four “category 1” patients overdue for surgery that should have been performed within 30 days, and 12 “category 2” semi-urgent patients overdue for procedures that should have been performed within 90 days.”