The ACT government has spent almost $60,000 on a report to determine the best practice model for ACT Health, which it awarded after the government already decided to split the directorate in two.
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It comes as the government continues its recruitment drive for two bosses of the new organisations to exist after the split.
Applications closed on June 24 for the role of director general of ACT Health - to replace the axed Nicole Feely - and the new role of chief executive officer of Canberra Hospital and Health Services.
The two roles will both report directly to the health minister, and job advertisements reveal each could be paid upwards of $400,000 a year.
Contract details state Robert Griew Nous Group will be paid $58,355 to "provide a written report on the best practice governance model for the ACT Health system".
The contract was not put out for public tender and awarded last month.
Opposition health spokeswoman Vicki Dunne has questioned whether the government did its homework before deciding to split the directorate and was now scrambling to do some due diligence.
A spokesman for Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris said the report would provide advice on the reporting lines between the two organisations and to the ministers.
"As the minister has said to ACT Health staff, a deliberate decision was taken to announce the separation of ACT Health into two distinct organisations before undertaking the detailed planning work," the spokesman said.
"This was to enable a considered approach ACT Health staff and stakeholders had input into the design.
"ACT Health is in the process of designing a communications and engagement process.
"This will ensure that the new organisational models will work on the ground for both staff and ACT Health consumers."
But Mrs Dunne said the report showed the government had made a knee-jerk reaction in splitting the directorate and was now belatedly attempting to do its due diligence.
“A diligent government would have invested a great deal of thought, research and consultation into the decision well before signing off on it,” she said.
The ACT government announced the health directorate would be split into two organisations on March 23.
One - headed by the chief executive officer of Canberra Hospital and Health Services - will be responsible for clinical operations and will focus on the operational delivery of quality health services to the community.
The other - headed by the director general of ACT Health - will be responsible for strategic policy and planning stewardship of the ACT’s health system. It will oversee the health system as a whole and set the strategic direction for health services, as well as providing health protection and promotion services.
The new structure will start from October 1.
