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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (24 September) . . Page.. 3309 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

that older people who live alone will be among those who most benefit from this important addition to health facilities in Canberra. The new independent living unit and a 20-bed convalescent ward will mean that public hospital beds in the ACT will increase by more than 30 over the next two years. That is on top of the increase that has happened already. That is a far cry from the 200 beds that were cut under the previous Government.

There is no doubt that hepatitis C is fast becoming one of the most serious public health challenges facing Australia today. That is why the ACT Government will also provide an additional $250,000 this financial year to improve the prevention and management of hepatitis C in our community. I am pleased to note that this additional funding will enable an additional 50 people to access treatment such as interferon for the management of their illness. As part of the Government's harm minimisation strategy for illicit drugs, additional funding of $55,000 will be made available to expand the ACT methadone program by 50 places to 400. Under new arrangements to be introduced later this year, the program will be extended into community settings by involving GPs and pharmacies.

This Government has also responded to the needs of Canberra's women and families. We have expanded the community midwives program, at a total cost of $178,000. This program, based at the birthing centre - the one that was going to close - at the Canberra Hospital, will be enhanced to provide for up to 175 women each year after the success of the current pilot project, which has looked after 60 women. Many more women will now have access to the option of community midwifery care.

As part of giving families with young children better access to community health services, a total of $3m has also been allocated this year for the construction of three new facilities. Two additional family care centres will be built at Gungahlin and Conder to provide a comprehensive range of services to parents and children, including day stay and outreach support, baby health and immunisation clinics, and parent education programs. A new early childhood residential service will be built in Curtin to cater for families with babies and infants ranging from zero to three years. This facility is expected to open next May and will replace the ageing QEII Hospital in Civic.

This Government has again delivered on its commitment to increase the level of services available to the frail aged and people with disabilities who want to remain independent and continue to live in their own homes. The home and community care program, jointly funded by the ACT and Federal governments, is expected to receive a further $800,000 increase this year. This additional money will augment the existing range of respite care and personal services that are available.

This year will also see the realisation of a major project to move more than a dozen younger Canberrans with disabilities who are inappropriately located in ACT nursing homes into a new, more homelike environment. A total of four community-based houses will be opened by the Government for up to 16 young Canberrans on two sites in the north and south of the city. The first of these facilities is expected to be completed by next April. On top of this, expenditure on disability services has been maintained at a record $16m this year. Under this Government, there are now 70 Canberrans who are able to receive individual support packages totalling $2.2m.

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