Health Minister unlikely to meet elective surgery election promise

The ACT Labor-Greens government has failed to meet their elective surgery targets for the third year in a row, placing their election commitment in jeopardy.

This most recent failure follows an announcement from the Health Minister that the Labor-Greens government will spend $6.7 million to try and catch up on their elective surgery numbers.

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

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

“Currently, they 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.

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

“This latest spin from the Minister follows reports that the ACT Labor-Greens government have abandoned and failed to implement the Northside Elective Surgery Centre which was also a 2020 election commitment."

Ms Castley said last year thousands of Canberrans were waiting in pain and longer than clinically recommended. Some of these patients left the ACT or paid to visit 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.

“The Canberra Liberals are glad that the Health Minister is finally listening to policies that I have put forward in the Assembly which include contracting private services to reduce waitlists,” Ms Castley concluded.