HNELHD chief executive, Michael DiRienzo, said nearly 99 per cent of all 7774 elective surgeries were performed on time across the Local Health District.

"Of the district's 15 hospitals captured in the BHI report, nine ranked perfectly for performing elective surgeries on time, which is pleasing to see," Mr DiRienzo said. "On top of this, 100 per cent of all urgent elective surgeries across the District were performed on time."

This performance across all surgery categories exceeded the State average. The best performing hospitals include Belmont, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Manning, Gunnedah, Inverell, Moree, Singleton, Narrabri and Muswellbrook hospitals, where 100 per cent of all elective surgeries were performed on time.

Mr DiRienzo said the district is also working hard to improve the patient experience through reductions in emergency department (ED) waiting times.

"Our EDs saw 106,923 patients from April to June 2019, over 5000 more, or a 5.2 per cent increase on the same period last year, with almost three quarters of those patients being seen within the recommended timeframes," he said.

"More than 78,000 patients, or 73 per cent, also left the ED within the benchmark of four hours, with the average time in the ED being two and a half hours."

The 2019-20 budget for Hunter New England Local Health District is nearly $2.4 billion, this is an increase of almost $72 million on the 2018-19 budget.

Between mid-2012 and mid-2019, Hunter New England Local Health District increased its workforce by an additional 1335 full time equivalent staff - an increase of 12.7 per cent including 203 more doctors, 722 more nurses and midwives, and 123 more allied health staff.