Page 2768 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 13 August 2019
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adds to delays in recruiting new staff as they need to relocate. But CHS has recruited nine staff, though they still have five vacancies they are actively trying to fill.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what action is Canberra Health Services taking to meet the growing demand for stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mrs Dunne for the supplementary, and I will take that question on notice.
Budget—health funding
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, how is the government continuing to support our nurses and doctors as they deliver crucial services to the Canberra community through this year’s budget?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mr Pettersson for his question and his ongoing interest in the government’s support for nurses and doctors, an interest that is shared by everyone on this side of the chamber. Health care is a core pillar of our values, and at the centre of this is the important work done by doctors and nurses in our health services. As I touched on this morning, this year’s budget will commit funding to ensure that people can receive the right health care where and when they need it.
For doctors and nurses in particular, this includes $4.6 million for more doctors at the Canberra Hospital’s emergency department to help reduce waiting times and respond to increasing demand, as per the earlier questions that were asked today; $40.5 million in Calvary Public Hospital over the next four years, providing funding for 81 new nurses, doctors, administration and other health professionals over two years; and $106 million over eight years to introduce a new digital health record, ensuring that doctors and nurses have the most up to date information when making decisions in relation to patient care.
Supporting our doctors and nurses also goes to ensuring that they are able to work in a positive environment. That is why the ACT government has committed $10.5 million in this year’s budget to implement the recommendations of the independent review into workplace culture across the ACT public health service over the next three years.
Further to the work being undertaken in relation to the culture review, which I will update the Assembly on in due course as part of the biannual update on progress against the recommendations, is the development of the health sector culture framework, which is work that will be undertaken in partnership with the Australian National University. The framework will consider the key fundamental elements towards creating a positive culture, such as leadership, mentoring and psychological safety, which will be implemented throughout the public health service.
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, what support and training opportunities are available to medical students and junior doctors who are just at the start of their careers?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mr Pettersson for the supplementary. Of course medical students’ and junior doctors’ support and training opportunities are critical.
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