An ACT Auditor-General’s report has today revealed that only 43.8% of specialist outpatient appointments - announced by the ACT Government in 2020 to help clear a backlog following Covid lockdowns - were actually achieved.

Operation Reboot was intended to deliver an additional 14,000 specialist outpatient appointments following COVID lockdowns, but only 6,132 of these appointments occurred.

Crucially, the Auditor-General’s report also found that the planning for the initiative was ineffective as no project management or risk management plan was developed.

Shadow Minister for Health Leanne Castley said, “It is disappointing but not surprising that the Health Minister announced this initiative as a way to fast track recovery in our public health system, only to fall well short of what was promised.”

“It is also concerning that this announcement was made to Canberrans promising to get back on top of the increasing number of overdue outpatients, yet CHS only managed to spend 40% of the amount budgeted.”

The Auditor-General’s report goes on to say that there was no agreed project plan, budget, schedule of activities or roles and responsibilities.

CHS claimed that consideration was given to risks in its capacity to deliver 14,000 additional appointments. However, the Auditor-General notes that CHS’ consideration of these issues was not documented, and no management plan was developed to mitigate risks.

“This again goes to show that the Health Minister’s track record is promising things, trying to rush them through and then significantly under-delivering.”

The Auditor-General’s report notes that the prioritisation of rapid rollout over forward planning compromised the effectiveness of the implementation of Operation Reboot (outpatients).

“It is extremely disappointing that this government continues to make big promises, only to consistently fail or under-deliver,” Ms Castley concluded.