A private provider will be brought in to boost the number of elective surgeries to 70,000 over the next four years if the Canberra Liberals win government on October 19.

Leader Elizabeth Lee said her government would go to tender and partner with a private provider to deliver at least 10,000 additional elective surgeries.

“This announcement by the Canberra Liberals will reduce elective surgery waitlists much quicker than what we are seeing currently under Labor and the Greens,” Ms Lee said.

“The Labor Party have failed to meet their target of 60,400 elective surgeries promised at the last election and as a result Canberrans in pain are languishing on waiting lists.”

Health spokesperson Leanne Castley said: “A Canberra Liberals government will identify patients most in need of elective surgeries and ensure any contract entered into with a private provider is conditional on meeting patient outcomes and performance targets.

“Currently, under the Labor-Greens government, outsourcing occurs on an ad hoc basis, which is inefficient and costly compared to entering into a contract with a private provider.

“Earlier this year it was revealed that there were almost 9000 people on the wait list for elective surgeries in Canberra, with around 30 per cent of those patients waiting longer than clinically recommended.”