Page 2117 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 5 June 2019
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MRS DUNNE: I note that the minister did not answer the question as to why only a third of category 2 patients are seen on time. Minister, why does the ACT health system continue to have amongst the worst emergency department wait times in the country?
MS FITZHARRIS: I refer Mrs Dunne to my previous answer on significant effort in terms of the timely care strategy at Canberra Hospital and efforts at Calvary Public Hospital, as well as our investments in Calvary and Canberra hospitals’ emergency departments.
MRS JONES: Minister, why, despite these efforts, does the government continue to have two-thirds of urgent presentations not seen on time?
MS FITZHARRIS: Of course, as minister I am responsible, but I note that the opposition say that the government is not seeing these patients on time. What they are saying is that the staff, who work very hard in our emergency departments, are not doing their jobs.
Mrs Jones: A point of order, Madam Speaker: I am not sure the minister understood the question, which was why two-thirds of urgent presentations are not seen on time, not whether the government sees them.
MADAM SPEAKER: The minister has a minute and a half to get to the answer.
MS FITZHARRIS: I have nothing further to add.
Health—nurse-led walk-in centres
MS CODY: My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Minister, can you please provide an update to the Assembly on the Weston Creek walk-in centre?
MS FITZHARRIS: I am delighted to provide an update on the Weston Creek walk-in centre, in Ms Cody’s electorate of Murrumbidgee. I am pleased to advise that Weston Creek, adjacent to Cooleman Court, is not only getting new car parks but a walk-in centre opening later this year. The work there is progressing very well indeed. The main construction works are on track to be completed in November this year, and the walk-in centre is scheduled to be open before Christmas. I know, through overwhelmingly positive local feedback, that local residents in Weston Creek, Molonglo Valley and the Woden region are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a nurse-led walk-in centre.
Preliminary sketch plans are progressing well and the development of the initial design will continue to be informed by clinician and stakeholder engagement, including staff from Canberra Health Services and the Health Care Consumers Association. Very soon Canberra Health Services will also be providing a community information session to the Woden Valley Community Council. The existing maternal and child health services located at the community health centre have been temporarily relocated and will soon be moving back into a refurbished facility to continue providing important health services to the local community.
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