Shadow Minister for Health Leanne Castley has labelled the ACT Health system a shambles under the watch of Rachel Stephen-Smith following reports that the Canberra Hospital has lost its training accreditation for Junior Doctors in orthopaedics.

Ms Castley said this is just another example of the Minister having systematically ruined the health system with a number of departments having lost training accreditation throughout the term.

“Ms Stephen-Smith must come out and tell Canberrans when she knew about the loss of the latest training accreditation for junior doctors and if she was waiting until after the election to make the announcement when the training term officially ends,” Ms Castley said.

“Canberra taxpayers also need to be told how much it is going to cost to replace the junior doctors with those more senior and where those doctors are coming from?

“The Minister has continuously told Canberrans things are getting better under her watch, but this latest disaster comes only days after a $31 million settlement with junior doctors was reached for unpaid overtime.

“Ms Stephen-Smith has spent much of this week slinging mud and playing political games while her health system is in disarray. It is clear after she has lurched from one crisis to another this term, she is not fit to be Health Minister.

“There are a number of questions Ms Stephen-Smith must front up and answer about this latest debacle and why Canberrans should give her another four years as Health Minister when all she has delivered is failure after failure.

“Whilst Ms Stephen-Smith has been slinging mud and focussed on petty political games this week the Canberra Liberals have announced significant health policies that will improve our failing health system.

“This includes extra support for frontline workers, a focus on primary care to take the strain off the emergency department and a royal commission that will ensure we are given a comprehensive look at the ACT Health System and what needs to be addressed.

“The Canberra Liberals also announced polices that allow junior doctors to have sufficient arrangements within their EBA to make sure that they can continue to train and improve as well as support though funding for DRs4Drs,” Ms Castley concluded.