Page 813 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 20 April 2021
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I would like to thank the Canberra Health Services and Health Directorate staff who worked hard to ensure that everyone who was booked in at the Garran surge centre the day after this announcement was able to get vaccinated appropriately.
The ACT government is continuing to work closely with the commonwealth on delivering the territory’s supply of both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines in a safe and timely manner. The Garran COVID-19 surge centre, which is currently providing both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines to those eligible under phase 1a, and healthcare workers and other critical and high-risk workers in phase 1b, has the capacity to provide more vaccinations when supply is increased. Subject to a consistent and regular supply, the dedicated facility could provide 6,000 to 7,000 vaccinations per week.
As I announced a couple of weeks ago, we are working towards an expansion of ACT government vaccination sites, with the first additional site to be at Calvary Public Hospital Bruce, opening around the end of this month. The ACT government may also be able to operate more Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccination sites in the territory, subject to a consistent and planned supply of the vaccination from the commonwealth government.
Our local GPs will continue to play a vital role in the rollout of the vaccination program in the ACT, and the government will work closely with our local primary health network to ensure we are administering vaccinations in an effective manner across the population.
As members may be aware, national cabinet met yesterday and considered a range of issues relating to the national rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. It is expected that a series of changes to the Australian COVID-19 vaccination strategy will be put forward for approval at the next national cabinet meeting later this week. The ACT government will update the Canberra community on any changes that may need to be implemented to our vaccination program here in the ACT.
We all know that COVID-19 had a major impact on our community and our health system in 2020. Progress is continuing, following the ACT government’s significant investment in public health services that were affected by COVID-19 restrictions and the suspension of many category 2 and 3 elective surgeries. At 30 June 2020 the territory had 1,505 patients overdue and awaiting surgery. By 29 March 2021 only 151 of those patients remained on this list. I am pleased to confirm that the ACT hospital system is on track to undertake a record number of elective surgeries in 2020-21.
Through our partnerships with private hospitals, we have delivered more than 1,000 additional endoscopies, exceeding the government’s commitment to deliver up to 679 additional procedures this financial year. In addition, the recovery plan has so far offered more than 1,720 long-wait dental clients an appointment through the program, delivering those appointments to those most in need, children and vulnerable community groups. This includes all people who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander on the waiting list having been offered appointments. I would like to
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