Page 1417 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 5 June 2007
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Over the five years from 2001-02 to 2005-06, our hospitals have confronted and met an extraordinary 32 per cent increase in demand for inpatient services. Total inpatient separations rose from around 54,000 in 2001-02 to 71,000 in 2005-06. This total is expected to rise by a further three per cent during 2006-07 to about 73,150 separations.
Services for the treatment of cancer have been strengthened to meet demand growing at around eight per cent a year for some services. There have been improvements to diagnostic testing and medical and radiation infrastructure and greater numbers of nursing and clinical staff.
We have almost doubled the expenditure on mental health, and expanded drug and alcohol services by around 42 per cent over the past five years.
Community-based health services continue to grow each year. Older patients now spend less time in hospital, and have better access to a wider range of outpatient, community and outreach services.
Expenditure on the dental health program has grown by 22 per cent since 2001-02, to plug the hole left by the withdrawal of the commonwealth from this area of health. The result of Labor’s investment has been that more low-income Canberrans are able to access dental health care.
At the same time as we have been ploughing money into health, we have been conscious of the need to make every one of those dollars work hard for Canberrans. We have improved efficiency, reduced administrative overheads and targeted resources to areas of greatest priority and greatest effect. Overheads as a proportion of total costs have reduced significantly.
Labor has created a responsive, efficient and sustainable health system, at a price affordable to the people of the ACT.
Today, I announce funding that will make the public health system deliver better health, to more Canberrans, in the areas that most matter.
This budget builds on an outstanding record of achievement. It allocates $66.8 million over four years in new initiatives and to areas of high priority.
Today, I announce funding for 20 additional acute-care beds at the Canberra Hospital, at a cost of $12.6 million over four years. At least 10 of these beds will be allocated to orthopaedic services. Since 2004-05 the government has funded 147 new hospital beds.
A further $2.1 million will meet the growth in demand for cancer services.
The mix of services provided by the aged care and rehabilitation service will be enhanced, with an additional $10.4 million allocated in this budget.
This budget allocates a further $12.6 million over four years devoted to more acute-level inpatient care. This will directly benefit all patients requiring admission to the acute and subacute rehabilitation units, including many older patients.
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