Minister Barr: Additional staff and theatre capacity to deliver more surgeries
- Written by ACT Government
Released 17/06/2024 - Joint media release
The ACT Government is continuing to invest in our public health system to ensure Canberrans can access the right care, when and where they need it.
The Government is resourcing our four-year elective surgery plan to deliver 60,000 elective surgeries and to expand operating theatre capacity in public health services.
Despite the challenges impacting elective surgeries in recent years, Canberra Health Services is on track to perform a record number of elective surgeries this financial year.
Additional funding in the 2024-25 Budget will further support the territory-wide surgery teams to continue this work across our hospitals.
More endoscopies will be delivered thanks to the recent expansion and upgrade of the endoscopy suites at North Canberra Hospital.
Additional theatre capacity at Canberra Hospital in the new Critical Services Building will be essential to improve timely access to emergency surgeries and increase the total capacity for elective surgeries performed at Canberra Hospital.
Increased operating theatre sessions during evenings and weekends, and more surgical inpatient beds to support growing emergency surgery demand are a critical part of this investment.
The Government has also committed to deliver an additional 300 cataract surgeries through partnerships with private facilities.
The Budget will support services and initiatives across the public hospital network, including acute care for older people across our public hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation at the University of Canberra Hospital, services for critically ill newborns and expanded maternity services.
Total investment in health next year is a record $2.6 billion, and will deliver more health services, infrastructure and support for the health workforce.
$52.7 million will be allocated to support the ACT Government’s four-year elective surgery plan
This funding is a reflection of the ACT Government’s commitment to improving access to health services and investing in the right infrastructure to the meet the future health needs of Canberrans.
Quotes attributable to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr
“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. 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.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith
“Canberra Health Services is on track to deliver a record number of elective surgeries this 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.
“This funding will support our territory-wide teams to continue this momentum, delivering more timely care to Canberrans.
“Staff will soon have access to new state-of-the-art operating theatres at the Critical Services Building. The advanced medical technology included in these theatres will support teams to deliver even better and more efficient care.”
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases
