The ACT Government has announced extra budget funding, totalling $52.7 million, for its four-year elective surgery plan to deliver 60,000 elective surgeries and to expand operating theatre capacity in public health services.
The total investment in health next year is a record $2.6 billion, the government says.
“In this Budget, we are investing to expand the delivery of health services to provide more people with care where and when they need it,” Chief Minister Andrew Barr said. “This is a challenge across the country, as health workforce shortages and an ageing population continue to work against each other in terms of supply and demand.
“Continuing to deliver a record number of important surgeries fundamentally improves the wellbeing and broader health outcomes of more Canberrans, and in many instances can prevent the need for further health interventions.”
Elective surgery waiting lists increased by 30 per cent since 2022, and nearly 9,000 people are waiting for their operations, according to figures released earlier this year.
Nevertheless, health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith is adamant that Canberra Health Services will perform a record number of elective surgeries this financial year.
“This is a huge effort by teams across the ACT health system, with our public and private hospitals working together to complete more surgeries to support patients,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
The ACT Government last year committed an additional $6.7 million in the 2023-24 Budget to achieve 15,500 public elective surgeries in the 2023–24 financial year.
Additional funding in the 2024-25 Budget will support the territory-wide surgery teams to continue this work.
“This funding will support our territory-wide teams to continue this momentum, delivering more timely care to Canberrans,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
More endoscopies will be delivered thanks to the new endoscopy suites at North Canberra Hospital, which will allow for 500 additional procedures this financial year, and more than 1,500 next financial year.
Additional theatre capacity at Canberra Hospital in the new Critical Services Building will improve timely access to emergency surgeries and increase the total capacity for elective surgeries performed at Canberra Hospital, the government says.
“Staff will soon have access to new state-of-the-art operating theatres at the Critical Services Building,” Ms Stephen-Smith said. “The advanced medical technology included in these theatres will support teams to deliver even better and more efficient care.”
Operating theatre sessions will be increased during evenings and weekends, and more surgical inpatient beds will meet growing emergency surgery demand.
Through partnerships with private facilities, the government will deliver 300 more cataract surgeries.
The Budget will support acute care for older people; in-patient rehabilitation at the University of Canberra Hospital; services for critically ill newborns; and expanded maternity services.
