Page 2632 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 7 August 2013

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closely and adds some time to the consultation. But it was used, and I think there was merit in using it from a clinical safety point of view. We have of course been monitoring the feedback from staff about that. There are further options being developed, particularly when the software moves out to the community, about the type of software that should be used in the next nurse-led walk-in centres.

The review, the paper that you refer to, is an academic perspective on how you would have implemented the nurse-led walk-in centre in a perfect world. Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world and the practical implementation of that service has varied from what particular people believed was the best way forward. I actually believe we did the best thing we could at the time, and that has been demonstrated to be proven because the service is very popular. No safety issues have been raised about the clinical decision making of the nurses in that service. It is very popular and every month we see presentations grow.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Lawder.

MS LAWDER: Minister, thank you for your answer. Can I clarify: will ACT Health be seeking nurse feedback and making changes to the software?

MS GALLAGHER: We work very closely with our staff, and feedback around software right across the organisation is always listened to. I do not think we will be moving away from the clinical decision making that that software allows, because it allows, I think, some safety in autonomous decision making for nurses and it allows us to monitor very closely the work that is being done in the nurse-led walk-in centre. Where we can look at improvements to it, of course we will do so. But I think the type of software that is being used is appropriate for the walk-in centre.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.

MR HANSON: Minister, do you have a licence to change the software, and will the software be implemented in the Belconnen and Tuggeranong walk-in centres?

MS GALLAGHER: I will need to take on notice the licence arrangements and come back to the Assembly with that. In answer to the second part of Mr Hanson’s question in terms of that software, the clinical decision-making support software, yes, it would be the intention to use that in the new centres.

MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Hanson.

MR HANSON: Minister, do you agree with the review’s findings that the walk-in centre has led to increased pressure and activity at the emergency department and that this has led as a consequence to longer waiting times?

MS GALLAGHER: I do not think that anyone can answer that honestly. I think there are different opinions. If you talk to people in Calvary at different times over the life of the walk-in centre, they actually believe that the walk-in centre has improved and reduced the presentations of category fives to their hospital. That has been said directly to me by clinical staff.


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