Labor has underlined its focus on health as new Premier Chris Minns announced a clinical-led task force to slash public hospital surgery wait lists.

About 100,000 people, including 4000 children, are waiting for elective surgery in NSW, with one in six waiting longer than clinically recommended.

"They are in pain and discomfort," Mr Minns told reporters on Tuesday.

"We've looked to New Zealand which has a similar task force with a 10-person board.

"We're hitting the ground running to help the people who help us."

The task force will audit and implement improvements to surgery across NSW.

It will report back to Health Minister Ryan Park and Health secretary Susan Pearce within three months on efficiency programs, better collaboration with the private sector and suggestions about how to reduce the waiting list.

"We know we can make a very good system better," Mr Park said.

He also wanted elective surgery to be called planned surgery in future, removing the suggestion patients had a choice.

"This is surgery people are living in pain waiting for," he said.

The task force was one of Labor's final election promises.