Page 2901 - Week 10 - Thursday, 7 October 2021
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expressions of interest process, including 333 nurses and 61 student nurses;
(c) the ACT Government is continuing to strongly invest in the public health system with a record $8.5 billion investment over four years in the 2021-22 Budget for the health portfolio;
(d) the ACT Government continues to grow critical hospital services through the provision of more than $128 million to support increased demand, building further capacity and to support contemporary models of care for the Canberra community;
(e) the ACT Government has allocated additional funds through the 2020-21 Budget and 2021-22 Budget to deliver more public endoscopy procedures and commence feasibility for upgrades at Canberra Hospital and Calvary Public Hospital Bruce to respond to growing demand in the ACT;
(f) the 2021-22 Budget outlines an $877 million health infrastructure pipeline over the coming five years, including the Canberra Hospital expansion and planning for a new northside hospital, to future proof our health system;
(g) this pipeline builds on the ACT Government investment of over $1 billion in health infrastructure in the previous decade, including delivery of the University of Canberra Hospital in 2018;
(h) the $624 million Canberra Hospital Expansion has already delivered two new buildings on the Canberra Hospital campus and refurbishment of multiple spaces, and the Critical Services Building is on track to be completed in 2024;
(i) the ACT Government committed to hiring a further 400 health care professionals to the ACT public health system in this term of government and by the end of the 2021-22 financial year an additional 257 FTE will join the health workforce in the ACT;
(j) this will include more than 90 additional FTE nursing positions as part of the first phase of Nursing and Midwifery ratios being implemented during 2021-22 to continue to improve the provision of safe, high quality care across our public hospitals;
(k) infection prevention and control is a vital part of the response to COVID-19, including fit testing of N95 masks to maintain effective personal protective equipment for healthcare workers. Calvary Public Hospital operates one fit testing machine, with a second machine available intermittently, and Canberra Health Services operates three fit testing machines seven days a week to ensure health workers are able to wear the best mask for them while working on the frontline; and
(l) implementation of the Culture Review continues to work on building a positive workplace culture for junior doctors and all health workers to support them to continue providing the best care to our community;”.
2. Omit paragraphs (2)(b) to (e), substitute:
“(b) continue to work with all states and the Northern Territory to engage the Commonwealth Government in meaningful discussions about health system sustainability, acknowledging the pressures experienced by public health systems in every jurisdiction.”.
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