WAITING times at ACT emergency departments continue to deteriorate with less than half of patients seen within clinically-appropriate time frames in 2021-22.

ACT Health’s 2022-23 budget shows that only 48 per cent of emergency department patients were treated on time last financial year, despite almost 10,000 fewer presentations than the previous year.

The government’s target set for 2021-22 was 70 per cent of emergency department patients to be seen on time.

Shadow Health Minister Leanne Castley said Canberrans were being forced to wait longer than other Australians for emergency department treatment.

“The Health Minister has been in the job more than three years, yet she has failed to fix our appalling ED wait times like she promised,” Castley said.

“Not only have Canberrans been told to stay away from ED unless absolutely necessary but ED staff are approaching patients and suggesting they go home.”

Figures also show that only 56 per cent of Category 2 semi-urgent patients were operated on within 90 days, compared to the government’s target of 80 per cent.

Recent Estimates hearings also revealed only 14,031 elective surgeries had been performed compared to the government’s target of 14,800.

“It is no surprise the government is falling way short of its own ED and elective surgery targets when it has been underfunding our health system for years and burnt out staff are leaving in droves,” Castley said.