Some Australians are waiting more than six years to see medical specialists such as neurologists, prompting doctors to warn that people are suffering "irreversible complications" and risking death while languishing on public waiting lists.

The ABC has analysed waiting lists for public specialists across the nation, with the results revealing an overstretched system.

In some cases, patients were left waiting more than three-and-a-half years for urgent appointments to see neurosurgeons, despite the clinically recommended time frame being 30 days.

Those waiting times were unacceptable, Australian Medical Association vice president Julian Rait said.

"It's a devastating impact for very many people. Either their disease gets worse, it progresses, and they suffer an irreversible complication

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