Page 3111 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 16 September 2015
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We are also lucky in Canberra to have the largest trauma and teaching hospital in the region, which offers high quality care for the worst accidents and complex medical cases. These are just a handful of the reasons demand is increasing on our services. I am, however, delighted to update the house on this government’s response to how we are addressing these demands and improving our health system.
The ACT Labor government is focused on making sure we invest in infrastructure for the future. We are making sure we are increasing access to services and we are making sure there is a focus on prevention. Completed projects under the more than $900 million health infrastructure program are already delivering more services, and the many new projects over the next few years will further deliver for Canberrans.
The most recent budget continued the significant capital investment in the health infrastructure program with a further $33.8 million. The health infrastructure program is about delivering the right care in the right place at the right time. What does that mean and what does that look like in terms of meeting demands? We have been increasing access to acute, subacute primary care and community health services through the health infrastructure program, to name a few.
The $23 million Canberra Hospital emergency department expansion project started in April this year and is on target and on budget for completion by the end of 2016. The emergency department will be expanded to have 1,000 square metres additional floor space and 21 additional beds, bringing the total number of patient treatment spaces from 54 to 75. The ED expansion will include a $5 million paediatric streaming function. The paediatric streaming function will involve transferring children and their parents or carers to a dedicated waiting area and then treatment area for young people when they attend the ED.
The waiting area will also have a play space, and the ED expansion will include a patient and visitor pantry and tea room not far from the paediatric streaming unit. This dedicated area will help to create rapid streaming and flow of patients to the point of care that best meets their needs. Families across Canberra will know how much this means when you are in ED with a child.
There are also the two walk-in centres at Tuggeranong and Belconnen. They are open from 7.30 am to 10 pm daily every day of the year, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day with free access to healthcare for common illnesses, including treatment of colds and flu, cuts and abrasions, bites and stings, minor illnesses and minor injuries. Since the walk-in centres opened in 2014, they have seen more than 40,000 patients.
It was just over a year ago today that the wonderful Canberra Region Cancer Centre opened its doors to staff and to the people of Canberra and surrounding region. In the last 12 months it has already provided 30,000 occasions of service for cancer patients. Delivering the clinical and supportive care for these patients is the 430-strong workforce made up of oncologists, radiologists, nurses, support staff, technicians and volunteers.
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