Page 1321 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 25 March 2009
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town and buy our local GPs, shut them down and consolidate these new assets. I see the immense pressure that our existing suburban GPs work under to preserve the local family GP model of health delivery and the huge sacrifice they make in order to do so.
I must say that times are getting pretty desperate when local communities cannot rely on their own elected governments to make the necessary provisions of services as essential as a local GP. But the situation is bad and getting worse. We are 60 to 70 GPs short and we have practices closing every month now.
This government clearly has no strategy to deal with the decline in GP services in our territory. They have no plan to engage our existing GPs, to identify what their needs are, to stem the tide of local GP clinic closures. The minister’s statement last week following the closure of the Kippax family practice was both remarkable and pathetic in content. I am still stunned at Ms Gallagher’s utter disinterest and lack of control in the delivery of primary health services in the ACT, as exemplified by her statement: “All we can do is, I guess, seek the corporate goodwill of some of these providers.”
The minister has finally revealed what this government’s policy is in relation to securing GP services for the community. I repeat for Ms Gallagher’s attention, “All we can do is, I guess, seek the corporate goodwill of some of these providers.” What an absurd government policy their policy is. “We do not have a policy except to write a few letters to corporate health providers and seek their goodwill.” What a disappointment for the people of Calwell! What a disappointment for the people of Wanniassa! What a tragedy for the people of Richardson, Kambah, Theodore, Monash and Oxley! The list goes on, and this is only in my electorate of Brindabella.
Recently we have seen GP clinic closures every week in parts of north-western Canberra. I feel for those people. I do not know how that community will absorb the impact of these closures. I am conscious that some of our most vulnerable and needy live in these areas.
Mr Stanhope: How many years was John Howard Prime Minister? Just remind me again.
Mr Coe: You keep on blaming the Howard government.
Mr Stanhope: Do you understand who is responsible for GP practice, Alistair? Come on, Sebastian, tell us. Do you know? Do you understand the structure of healthcare delivery in Australia?
Mr Coe: You are solving the problem, Jon.
MR DOSZPOT: Could we stop the clock?
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Burch): Gentlemen! Stop the clock. Mr Doszpot has the floor.
Mr Stanhope: I was trying to assist. I beg your pardon.
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