Minister Barr: More investment to support Canberra hospitals
- Written by ACT Government
Released 27/07/2022 - Joint media release
The ACT Government will fund more critical healthcare in our hospitals through this year’s Budget.
With the continued growth in the ACT’s population, coupled with the impacts of COVID-19, our hospitals and healthcare facilities are experiencing increased demand. Through the Budget we will provide additional investment to deliver more health services in response to these circumstances.
The ACT Government will invest almost $30 million to deliver more elective surgeries, helping to deliver on our target of 60,000 elective surgeries over the four years to 2024‑25. This funding will also support expansion of the effective Good Life with Arthritis program that reduces the number of people needing lower joint replacement.
The Government will also significantly boost endoscopy services at Canberra Hospital. An additional $5.7 million investment funds an additional 900 endoscopies each year for the next two years.
The Government will also deliver more Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and inpatient beds at Calvary Hospital, with a $17 million investment across the inpatient environment and an expansion of outpatient services to meet increased demand.
Further investments to be made at Calvary Hospital include the establishment of a new gestational diabetes mellitus service and expansion of the special care nursery. This investment is part of a $12.1 million package to deliver on our 10-year maternity system reform plan Maternity in Focus.
The Government is also boosting specialist care for children and young people with $4.8 million to expand the community paediatrics team with a new Neurodevelopment and Behavioural Assessment and Treatment Service and more outpatient services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
These initiatives are part of another record investment in our health services that will assist the health system to manage COVID-19 while delivering more appointments, more procedures and more surgeries when and where people need them.
Quotes attributable to Chief Minister Andrew Barr:
As we have done throughout the pandemic, the ACT Government will continue to increase resources across our health system so that our doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health care workers can deliver the care Canberrans need.
Funding for our public healthcare system is the single largest area of expenditure in the Territory Budget. This year, the Government will invest further to increase health services in the ACT and plan for the future as population in the ACT and surrounding region continues to age and grow.
Quotes attributable to Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith:
These key initiatives reflect our approach to managing COVID-19 and responding to the impacts it has had across service delivery with more appointments, more surgeries and more procedures.
Almost $30 million will be invested to grow elective surgeries year on year across our system, continuing the significant investment over recent years that has seen elective surgery in the ACT growing well above rates in other jurisdictions.
Our focus on responding to COVID-19 and its impacts will further support our incredible frontline workers as they continue to deliver healthcare through the pandemic, while also seeing increased investment to deliver the care Canberrans need.
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases
