ACT Budget 2016: government spends big on election year health blitz

An additional 157 ACT Health jobs will be created next financial year with the health spend representing 30 per cent of total expenditure or $2962 a person, the largest spend for a directorate.

Emergency departments have been prioritised with $29 million allocated for 59 extra staff over four years and $2 million to recruit and employ another specialist physician. Up to 39 staff will begin work within a year.

A further $28.9 million will be spent on the expansion of the Canberra Hospital emergency department in addition to a $212 million investment in the University of Canberra Public Hospital. Both projects are expected to be completed this year.

Another $5 million will be spent on an acute stroke unit at Canberra Hospital with four specialist staff, with $4.6 million for more intensive care beds and a $5.3 million expansion of trauma services.

The performance of emergency departments will be a controversial campaign issue with ACT Health criticised for wait times despite unprecedented demand, population growth and an ageing population.

The government failed to meet its targets for emergency department presentations this year with the exception of category one patients or category five presentations.

The government also missed its targets for the proportion of emergency department patients who waited longer than four hours for care.

Last year, the government announced $14.8 million over the next two years to slash the territory's elective surgery waiting list. But budget papers reveal targets for admission to surgery in recommended time have been missed, although improvements are expected in coming years.

This year, the government announced an extra $1.3 million for 300 endoscopy services at hospitals in an attempt to clear the list.

Last year, the government aimed to remove 12,500 people from the elective surgery waiting list. It removed 13,500.

A commitment to mental health services, which ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr sold as a benefit for the entire community, has been facilitated by changes to federal funding.

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison's first federal budget, delivered in early May, allocated an extra $151.4 million for health outcomes in Canberra, taking the total money to $1.1 billion over three years.

The increase, determined by cross border presentations from Queanbeyan and surrounding regions, will provide $126 million between 2017 and 2019. The money will be received directly rather than through reimbursement.

Close to $2.4 million will be spent on accommodation for patients with mental illness. Another $2.7 million will increase beds at the adult mental unit from 35 to 37, with another 7.9 million spent improving the facility next year.

Three targeted community programs will receive $3.9 million. Community organisations will also benefit from $1.3 million to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes.

Front-line drug services, which have been calling for additional funding for years with some clinics closing their waiting list due to demand last year, will receive an addition $8 million with $2 million allocated to reducing family violence.

The government will also establish a clinical genomic sequencing service for $7.2 million with $909,000 spent next year. Mr Barr said the service would focus on personalised medicine and provide cutting-edge research and services in our city.

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