Page 3514 - Week 08 - Thursday, 18 August 2011
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Another important finding in this report is the extremely high patient satisfaction survey, which showed that 84 per cent of those surveyed would definitely recommend the walk-in centre to family and friends. Eighty-two per cent said that they would definitely use the walk-in centre again, and 30 per cent of those surveyed were repeat attendees—that is, they had come there for a second visit. Also, the walk-in centre was chosen by these patients because it was quicker than getting an appointment with a GP, there was a shorter wait than in the emergency department, and also that it was cheaper than a GP or CALMS.
One of the overall aims of the walk-in centre was to improve access to primary health care across the ACT. I think it has certainly met that in terms of meeting one of those aims. One was to develop innovative strategies for the retaining of a very highly trained workforce in advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners. I think overwhelmingly it has been successful in that regard as well, but the findings do lead us to reconsider the scope of practice, the profile of the staff and whether or not we need to add in other types of health professionals to complement a full multidisciplinary approach to providing care.
There was an issue—and I think this will be one of constant discussion over the next few weeks with stakeholders—about the pressure on the emergency department or whether it has increased activity in the emergency department. The report overall finds that—and it is not entirely clear—overall, after they have done a fair bit of analysis, they believe that it probably has increased activity in the emergency department and they have decided that that has been based on having the walk-in centre located on hospital grounds.
Those are issues that we need to look through as we build on this model. But I think overall this report shows that the walk-in centre is here to stay. We now need to have a look at the model of care, where it is located, the scope of practice for the staff within it, to make sure we can make the best use out of this service in the interests of the local community.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Chief Minister, what were the main findings of the report?
MS GALLAGHER: I probably touched on them in my first answer but I think, in terms of other findings and the way forward, we do have to look at the issue of the location of the emergency department in a hospital setting. But I think it also makes a number of recommendations—it does not make recommendations; it has findings— around, as I said, the model of care, the software that is used, the emergency department walk-in centre workloads and relationships, referrals to and from the walk-in centre, scope and practice for the staff. Things have come up such as active after-hours radiology, how staff are involved in training and management opportunities and directing the best way forward for the walk-in centre.
There is plenty for us to work on in terms of the findings or the areas for continued improvement. But overall I think the most important finding is that the service is having positive impacts for consumers and practitioners across the territory.
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