Page 3791 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 19 September 2018
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MS FITZHARRIS: I understand that previous medical histories, as they might be available to Canberra Hospital anyway, are available upon request.
MRS KIKKERT: Minister, what waivers or other report qualifications does an external analyst make when they report on CT scans from the Canberra Hospital?
MS FITZHARRIS: I will take that question on notice, but I note that it is safe practice, as a responsible management plan in the event of unplanned leave, to be able to have an off-site imaging report done. That is in the event that there is unplanned leave which means that the same service cannot be provided.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what assurances have you sought and received so that you are satisfied that the risk of poor medical outcomes for patients is minimised when scans are sent offsite for analysis?
MS FITZHARRIS: I have sought and received assurances from the chief medical officer.
Health—nurse-led walk-in centres
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Minister, how will the opening of the Gungahlin nurse-led walk-in centre benefit the Yerrabi community?
MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Mr Pettersson for the question, and his company at the opening of the Gungahlin walk-in centre just a few weeks ago. It is of course the ACT’s third nurse-led walk-in centre, fully funded in the 2017-18 budget. Walk-in centres are staffed by advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners and the Gungahlin walk-in centre provides an alternative for fast, free access to health advice and one-off treatment for minor illnesses and injuries to residents of Gungahlin and the broader Yerrabi community.
Some walk-in centre clients have previously reported that they have difficulty accessing GPs, particularly outside business hours and on the weekends. Access for clients is enhanced as the walk-in centres are open from 7.30 am to 10 pm seven days a week.
The Gungahlin walk-in centre is located right in the heart of the Gungahlin town centre, collocated with the community health centre, and provides its services free of charge on a walk-in, no-appointment basis. In the first week of operation the Gungahlin walk-in centre averaged 30 patients per day, while attendance at the other two centres, in Tuggeranong and Belconnen, remained constant. This demonstrates that the Yerrabi community is already seeing the benefits of this service, as do tens of thousands of other Canberrans each year.
MR PETTERSSON: What benefits does the walk-in centre bring in complementing primary care and other health services?
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