Page 933 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 April 1994
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The position of dean was subsequently interviewed for in November 1993 and the successful applicant, Professor Paul Gatenby, has now taken up his appointment within the Canberra clinical school and is currently at Woden Valley Hospital. Professor Gatenby comes to the ACT well qualified for his position. For the past 20 years Professor Gatenby has taught both undergraduate and postgraduate medical students at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.
Madam Speaker, the establishment of the Canberra clinical school is a matter of great significance to ACT health. It will provide a dimension that has not previously been available to our hospitals. It will provide the ACT health system with the opportunity to integrate services to patients, teaching and clinical research faculties within a new organisational framework. Firstly, this framework will be reflected within both hospitals and then, by embracing community services within that structure, a completely integrated system of patient care will be developed across all ACT health services.
The Canberra clinical school will have a primary focus on the continuum of client care, including domiciliary services, in a variety of publicly funded health facilities such as the community and aged care facilities. Training will take medical students through primary and preventative care to the acute stages of illness and post-acute care. Therefore, the overarching principle for the clinical school in the ACT will be to ensure that health care is focused upon the total needs of clients. This integrated system will be complemented by a new proactive approach to clinical teaching and also by the evaluation of, and research into, health outcomes and health related interventions.
Research is an intrinsic part of a teaching hospital, and the establishment of a clinical school will certainly lead to increased opportunities in the ACT for medical research into health science and related areas. The establishment of the school will also stimulate greater links between locally based researchers in health related fields and those undertaking research and development in advanced technology in the ACT. Both the John Curtin School of Medical Research and Woden Valley Hospital are at the forefront of research in the medical field. With the establishment of the clinical school will come enhanced opportunities for discoveries in, and advancement of, medical science. As well, existing links with the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health and with the University of Canberra and the Australian National University will be strengthened by the advent of the clinical school.
It is also expected that with the establishment of the clinical school local firms will develop a stronger focus in the areas of diagnostic services, pharmaceutical and equipment supplies and advances in biotechnology. All the different research bodies will be winners in this process, and there are opportunities for the clinical school to attract private sector endowments and sponsorships to advance specific research projects. It is a well-recognised fact that when general hospitals become teaching hospitals there is a significant increase in morale and sense of purpose. The presence and stimulus of students help to inspire greater creativity, and a greater emphasis is placed on accountability.
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