With rare exceptions, the 'wait' here simply involves matching the schedules of the patient, the surgeon and the operating room - unless there's a vacation or other previous commitment on the part of either the surgeon or the patient, 2 weeks or less would be typical.

Yes, it's a problem here, but not particularly a reason to prefer single-payer - just a reflection of the political deviousness of our so-called 'public servants'.

Fair enough. The average wait for elective surgery in Australia is 34 days, with the slowest place (Canberra) at 74 days. A warts and all Australian health institute report can give you an idea of how a public/private system really works. I've linked to the press release, which is nice and short. We have a 60% public and 40% private system, so it's not quite UK-style, but although it's teetering in some places it seems to be working overall.

As a public servant, I take offence at the insinuation that we're devious. We're simply opaque both in method and purpose, and you can blame your politicians for demanding that.

The public servants I was referring to are the political variety, not the civil variety. 

Nonetheless, at least here, it seems many 'civil' servants take a certain perverse joy in frustrating the folks what pays their salary.

if this is going to be soo good I want my politicans to go to the same doctors that I do and get the same care they are forcing on me...