Photo: Jonathan Brown has sleep apnoea and has to wear a breathing device to bed every night. (ABC News) In the case of a medical emergency, Australia’s public hospital system will take care of you, whatever your bank balance. Jonathan Brown has sleep apnoea and has been waiting two years for elective surgery to remove his tonsils The median waiting time for elective surgery in public hospitals was 40 days in 2017-2018 Some hospitals have hidden waiting lists that are not counted in official statistics "I’ve seen the development of the system here into something that is as good as you see anywhere in the world," burns specialist and 2005 Australian of the Year Fiona Wood said. "We provide a trauma service of excellence." But when it comes to less urgent, elective procedures, the system is not so equitable. A patient’s experience can depend on issues such as where […]