Waiting for Grommet Surgery in Australia: What Parents Can Do While on the Waitlist

Written By Andrea .

If your child is waiting for grommet surgery in Australia, you’re probably wondering what to do next.

You’ve been told your child needs grommets.

You’ve seen the ENT specialist.

And now your child is on a grommet surgery waitlist—often with wait times of months (or longer).

Many parents search:

  • “How long is the wait for grommets in Australia?”

  • “What to do while waiting for ear tube surgery?”

  • “Can I speed up my child’s grommet surgery?”

But what’s often missing is clear guidance on how to navigate the wait.

This article will walk you through what you can actually do while waiting for grommet surgery in Australia—so you’re not stuck feeling powerless.

If you are needing more information on Grommets/ Adenoids surgery and how this impacts recurrent ear infections see here: Recurrent Ear Infections in Toddlers: When to Consider Grommets, Adenoids & What It Means for Hearing and Speech (Australia Guide)

Why Grommet Surgery Wait Times Can Be So Long in Australia

In the public system, grommet insertion (ear tube surgery) is usually classified as elective (non-urgent) surgery.

That means:

  • It’s important—but not prioritised ahead of more urgent conditions

  • Children are placed into Category 1, 2, or 3 waitlists

  • Wait times can range from months to over a year, depending on location and category

For many families, this creates a frustrating gap between:

Knowing something isn’t right—and not being able to fix it quickly.

If you’d like to learn more about Australia’s public vs private health system see here: Public vs Private Paediatric Care in Australia: What parents need to know

What to Do While Waiting for Grommet Surgery

1. Confirm You’re Actually on the Waitlist

One of the most common issues is simple—but critical.

Always confirm:

  • Your child has been added to the surgical waitlist

  • All paperwork has been received

  • Your contact details are correct

You can check with:

  • The hospital bookings team

  • Your ENT specialist’s rooms

Admin delays can quietly add months.

2. Understand Your Child’s Surgery Category

Ask:

  • What category is my child listed under?

  • What is the expected wait time for this category at this hospital?

This gives you a realistic timeframe and helps you identify if delays are outside what’s expected.

3. Ask to Be Added to the Cancellation List

Many hospitals run short-notice cancellation lists.

This means:

  • You may be offered surgery at short notice

  • Being flexible can significantly reduce wait time

A simple question:

  • “Can we be added to the cancellation list?”

can sometimes make a meaningful difference.

4. Keep Your GP Involved During the Wait

Your GP plays an important role while you’re waiting.

They can:

  • Document ongoing concerns

  • Track changes over time

  • Support reassessment if needed

If your child’s condition changes, this documentation becomes important.

5. Monitor Changes (You Don’t Need to Diagnose Anything)

Parents often notice subtle but important shifts over time.

This might include:

  • Changes in hearing

  • Speech delays or unclear speech

  • Sleep disruption

  • Behaviour changes or frustration

Keeping simple notes helps you:

  • Communicate clearly with professionals

  • Show patterns over time

How Unwell Your Child Gets Matters

Not all children experience ear infections the same way.

Some children:

  • Have mild symptoms

  • Recover quickly

  • Continue functioning day-to-day

Others:

  • Become systemically unwell

  • Have significant pain, fever, poor intake, or lethargy

  • Need repeated medical or hospital review

This difference matters when considering how long you can realistically wait.

If your child remains relatively well between episodes, waiting may feel manageable.

But if your child becomes significantly unwell with each episode, waiting 6–12 months may not feel possible.

If you are navigating recurrent Otitis Media in your little one you may be considering when is the right time to take your toddler/ baby to hospital for a fever. See here for helpful tips in making this decision Baby Fever: When Should You Take Your Child to Hospital? (How Virtual ED Can Help You Decide)

If Your Child Is Getting More Unwell: Start Keeping Records

If episodes are increasing in severity, start documenting.

This helps ensure the full picture is visible within the system.

If your child needs urgent care or hospital review:

  • Keep copies of hospital discharge summaries

  • Track how often episodes occur

  • Note the impact on feeding, sleep, and overall function

  • if you are admitted due to an acute flare try and speak to the ENT or paediatrician on the ward - request if they can escalate your surgery referral.

Over time, this builds a clear record of:

  • Frequency

  • Severity

  • Impact

This information can support:

  • GP follow-up

  • Specialist review

  • Any need for reassessment of urgency

Public vs Private: It’s Not Just About the Upfront Cost

When considering private surgery, many families focus on the immediate out-of-pocket cost.

But there’s another side that often gets overlooked.

Recurrent ear infections can mean:

  • Frequent time off work

  • Using up sick leave or carers leave

  • Taking unpaid leave

  • Managing childcare disruptions

Over months—or even years—this can have a significant financial and emotional impact.

For some families:

  • Paying upfront for private surgery may be more manageable than ongoing work disruption and repeated illness.

  • For others, the public system remains the right choice.

But it’s important to weigh:

  • Short-term cost vs long-term impact

Consider Early Support While You Wait

If hearing or speech is being affected, support doesn’t have to wait for surgery.

You can explore:

  • Hearing assessments

  • Speech pathology

  • Early childhood support services

Your GP can help guide access pathways in Australia.

When “Just Waiting” Doesn’t Feel Right

Being on a waitlist doesn’t mean nothing can change.

It’s reasonable to seek review if:

  • Symptoms worsen

  • Episodes become more frequent

  • Your child’s function is impacted

This might involve:

  • Returning to your GP

  • Contacting your ENT

  • Requesting reassessment and updated triage of any updated referral

A More Practical Way to Approach the Waitlist

Instead of feeling stuck, many parents find it helpful to think about:

1. Impact Over Time

  • How often is your child unwell?

  • How much is it affecting daily life?

2. Severity of Episodes

  • Are they manageable at home?

  • Or escalating to urgent care?

This helps guide whether:

  • Waiting feels reasonable

  • Or whether exploring faster options becomes more important

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Be Passive in the Wait

Waiting for grommet surgery in Australia can feel like limbo.

You’ve been told your child needs help—but not urgently enough to get it quickly.

But this stage doesn’t have to be passive.

You can:

  • Stay informed

  • Reduce avoidable delays

  • Track what’s happening

  • Advocate if things change

And most importantly—

  • feel like you’re doing something while you wait.

Need Help Knowing What to Say (and When)?

If you’re unsure:

  • When to follow up

  • How to escalate concerns

  • What actually gets taken seriously

I’ve created practical tools to help you navigate exactly this.

👉 Hospital Escalation Guide for parents / Paediatrician Playbook

Andrea .
Next

Recurrent Ear Infections in Toddlers: When to Consider Grommets, Adenoids & What It Means for Hearing and Speech (Australia Guide)