The ACT Government will increase elective surgery activity this financial year, health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith announced. But the opposition does not believe that promise will be fulfilled.

Additional funding of $6.7 million in the 2023-24 ACT Budget aims to achieve a record 15,500 public elective surgeries in the coming year, Ms Stephen-Smith said.

The North Canberra Hospital (former Calvary Public Hospital) is reopening its theatres, which were rebuilt after an electrical fire in 2022; these will be fully operational again in October, restoring surgical activity to pre-fire levels, Ms Stephen-Smith said.

Three theatres, a procedure room, and patient recovery area needed to be entirely rebuilt after the fire. The day surgery waiting area has also been repaired and upgraded.

Despite the fire and increased demand for elective surgery, the government met its target last financial year, Ms Stephen-Smith said: around 12,629 elective surgeries were performed in 2022-23 in the ACT.

“This has been a very difficult time for staff and patients impacted by the fire, which also comes off the back of substantial disruption as a result of COVID-19 and other respiratory illness,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

“There has also been a truly collaborative effort across the ACT health system, with our public and private hospitals working together through these challenges and supporting their patients.

“This is a real testament to our health workers in the ACT and I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of both clinical and non-clinical staff to achieve this many surgeries during this time.”

Other measures to increase the number of elective surgeries include partnering with private hospitals, including undertaking surgeries in NSW and through the Territory Wide Surgical Services Public Private Partnership, and outsourcing surgeries for ear, nose and throat, and gynaecology procedures; expanding bariatric surgery (obesity); and extending the Good Life with Arthritis: Denmark (GLA:D) education and exercise program to support joint patients.

But the Canberra Liberals claim that the ACT Government has failed to meet its elective surgery targets for the third year in a row, placing their election commitment in jeopardy.

Leanne Castley MLA, Shadow Minister for Health, said the $6.7 million announced was more smoke and mirrors from the Minister who has failed to meet her own elective surgery targets each this term.

“The Health Minister took a commitment to the 2020 election to deliver 60,000 surgeries across four years,” Ms Castley said.

“Currently, the Labor-Greens government have performed less than 42,000 surgeries with a year to go. This year, the Minister has only set a target to complete 15,500 surgeries which means that the government are likely to fail this election commitment.

“This spin from the Minister follows reports that the ACT Government have abandoned and failed to implement the Northside Elective Surgery Centre, which was also a 2020 election commitment.

“Investing $6.7 million to achieve 15,500 surgeries does not fix the serious staff shortfalls and cultural issues that impact elective surgery numbers.”

Ms Castley said earlier this year that thousands of Canberrans were waiting in pain and longer than clinically recommended. Some of these patients left the ACT or paid to be seen in private hospitals because they were afraid that they would not receive elective surgeries in their lifetime. 

“It is difficult to believe there will be any improvement going forward despite the Minister’s assertions that they are building on previous investments for elective surgeries,” Ms Castley said.

“The Canberra Liberals are glad that the Health Minister and ACT Government are finally listening to policies that I have put forward in the Assembly which include contracting private services to reduce waitlists.”