Figures within the most recent report on current waiting times and waiting times register by specialty for booked patients in NSW hospitals, released this month, shows Wagga had the third-highest number of patients waiting more than 12 months, fourth highest number of patients on the register, and had the seventh longest average waiting time.

Wagga Base had 2281 patients on the waiting list for surgery, with an average wait of 5.21 months, and 149 of those patients have been waiting for more than 12 months for their surgery.

State Minister for Health, Carmel Tebbutt yesterday spruiked a 6.7 per cent increase in elective surgical procedures on the last quarter in comparison to the same time last year, despite an increase in demand.

Acting director of clinical operations for Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS), Susan Weisser, said the increase of patients on waiting lists at WWBH is due to the range of specialties available.

"The increase in the number of patients on the waiting list for elective surgery at WWBH reflects the increase in the amount of elective surgery now offered compared to more than a decade ago," she said.

"More people are being added to the waiting list because WWBH is performing more surgery as a result of more surgeons working at the hospital."

Elective surgery is divided into three treatment categories, with waiting times of up to 30 days, up to 90 days and up to 365 days, and an increase in category three surgeries has impacted on the wait for WWBH patients.

According to the latest quarterly performance report from NSW Health, in Wagga the median waiting time for category one is 18 days, category two 67 days and category three 329 days, with 71 per cent of patients treated on time.

"The category for surgery is based on the clinical condition of the patient and is determined by the treating specialist," Ms Weisser said.

"WWBH is now admitting a higher number of category three patients, including general surgery, ophthalmology and orthopaedics."