Page 110 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 9 December 2008
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on delivering a plan that secures our health future. Over the coming term we will design and build a new $90 million women’s and children’s hospital. The project is well underway. We have appointed a design team and staff and consumers are currently looking at the best way to deliver care in the new facility.
We will also build a range of mental health facilities, including an adult acute in-patient unit, a young persons’ in-patient unit, and a 15 bed secure unit. We are also doing the planning for a new mental health assessment unit for the Canberra Hospital. We are introducing new e-health capabilities and these new technologies will bring revolutionary changes to health service delivery. We are developing additional operating theatres, with two theatres at Canberra Hospital expected to be operational in June 2009, and one at Calvary, which is due to be operational in March next year.
Planning is also well underway for the neurosurgery suite at the Canberra Hospital. It will be amongst the most advanced neurosurgical suites in Australia. Detailed design has commenced on a new ICU/HTU/CCU at Calvary Hospital. This new facility will address the services needs at Calvary Hospital and will be part of a territory-wide network of critical care services that will be enhanced by an information management system. Construction on this facility is expected to commence in 2009.
This program of capital works will extend across all areas of our public health services. Our network of community health centres will be enhanced by the addition of a new centre in Gungahlin and the refurbishment and expansion of our existing centres to allow for a greater range of services to be provided from these centres.
A key feature of future community health centres will be walk-in centres. We are currently seeking the community’s views on walk-in centres and how they will function. Our early thinking suggests that these centres will offer consumers fast, efficient access to health advice, and information and treatment of minor ailments and illnesses. The centres will be staffed by a primary care team including nurses and allied health professionals and will provide free healthcare for patients on a walk-in, no appointments basis.
Walk-in centres will work with hospital emergency departments, GPs and extended hours services such as CALMS to provide a new service model. They will complement existing services, yet fill a recognised gap in access to basic primary care services in Canberra. This redevelopment program is more than buildings. We are equally focused on ensuring that we have the right mix and number of staff to deliver health services in the future.
It is essential that we grow our health workforce to keep in front of demand for services. We are also looking at new ways to provide safe high quality health services outside of the way we are currently providing services if we are to meet community needs throughout the next decade and beyond.
This is the most ambitious and comprehensive program ever developed for the future of our health services. Not only will it deliver the health system of the future; it will also provide a significant boost to the ACT economy at a time when we need it by the engagement of local contractors and creating a powerful workforce attraction.
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