Page 150 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2012
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I can tell you that what we are doing here is doubling the resources going into nurse-led walk-in centre facilities across the ACT. A total of 27,000 people have already used this facility. The feedback from them is extremely positive. We need to look at the appropriate model of care and how it operates. We need to seriously answer whether it is a nurse practitioner model or an advanced practice nurse model. But the funding is there to see it continue as it is, and we will provide more funding—in fact, double the funding—to increase the provision.
In terms of Mr Hanson, who is so capable of coming in and spraying and pointing the finger and complaining, we wait. We do not hold our breath because that would have serious health consequences, but we wait for the first policy announcement from him in the Health portfolio. He is very quick to complain and very quick to point the finger, but indeed three years down the track he has no ideas about what they would do—none at all.
When he comes in and talks about vague promises—and he can put his own spin on that—our promises are very clear: doubling the funding that is currently going in, expanding the provision into the community centre, into the community, and actually working with health stakeholders about how you best spend this money to deliver what you want—what a shock that must be to the Liberal Party—and then taking some decisions based on that.
Mr Hanson, in terms of whether that is vague, there is a lot more detail about that than any idea that you have ever had in this place in relation to health. We wait with bated breath for any idea. Indeed, on the issue of the nurse-led walk-in centre, a model that is so popular in the community, I think Mr Hanson’s real gripe is that he did not get in first. He did not get in first to actually promise the expansion of such a popular service that has been innovative. It is the first one that has ever opened in Australia to provide that level of care, to give nurses the opportunity to expand their scope of practice and to actually deliver services in an autonomous fashion with the opportunity to grow that.
This is what we have done. It has been hard because it challenges the status quo of the health system, and the politics within it are complex. But we have no doubt that if we work in partnership with general practice in the north and south of Canberra, we will come up with a very efficient, effective new service for access to primary health care out of hours and free of charge for those presenting with low acuity conditions. I would support the amendment that I have moved. The funding provided is in full in the forward estimates.
Mr Hanson: No, it is not.
MS GALLAGHER: Yes, it is, Mr Hanson. If you had actually turned up—
Opposition members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: I cannot help you if you do not understand how the growth in health funding is actually presented across the forward estimates. It is there. Perhaps if
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