Page 3681 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 15 October 1991
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In July I was fortunate to attend the seminar to which my colleague Dr Kinloch has referred, which was conducted by the ACT Community Health Association and which was entitled "Health is not only hospitals". Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I have a copy of the proceedings of that seminar, which was addressed by the current Health Minister, Mr Berry. In light of some of the comments that Mr Berry, my colleague Dr Kinloch, Mr Moore and Mr Humphries have made, I think it is appropriate to mention some of the points which were raised by the Minister and which are relevant to the debate today. They relate specifically to his comments on community health. He said:
Community health is a vital part of the ACT Health System.
My Government -
a delusion of grandeur there, I would suggest -
is committed to maintaining and developing comprehensive community health services for the ACT.
The organisation structure of the ACT Health System gives equal status to non-hospital services and hospital services to ensure that each voice is heard.
Further on, he stated:
The primary purposes of the Community Health Service program in the ACT are:
- to provide a range of services at single locations which are accessible to all the residents of the ACT and which target people with the multiple problems often associated with low socio-economic status.
- to provide services with an emphasis on illness prevention and health promotion.
- to provide specialised services using multi-disciplinary teams to population groups within the community such as people who need alcohol and drug services, speech therapy, nutrition advice and podiatry, and
- to ensure effective access and referral to other Government services such as Welfare, Hospitals and Community services.
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