Page 2653 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 7 August 2013
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I would also like to praise the great essential work done by the many nurses in my electorate and pay tribute to the nurses and midwives at Cavalry hospital, those who are working in community health and aged care, nurses teaching and studying at the University of Canberra faculty of health, and I also look forward to seeing many more nurses working in Belconnen at the University of Canberra public hospital.
I believe the evolution of nurse-led walk-in centres in the ACT is a recognition of the breadth of skills we have in our nursing workforce. They have not always received the respect they deserve for their contribution to our community. However, as the review highlights—and here I repeat what Mr Gentleman and Ms Gallagher have already said—some of the greatest advocates for the Canberra Hospital walk-in centre are the patients. Since the Canberra Hospital centre opened, it has seen 51,829 people. About 21,000 patients used the service in the 2012-13 financial year. Patients surveyed in the review are pleased with, amongst other measures, the ease of seeing a nurse and the service’s accessibility.
The current service, being open 16 hours a day every day of the week from 7 am till 11 pm, means it is meeting the needs of families when illness does not work to a timetable. And, of course, no appointment is necessary, and it is free. Canberrans have voted with their feet and flocked to the first nurse-led walk-in centre. They will do the same with the new centres in Belconnen and Tuggeranong.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (4.33): In speaking to the amendment and in closing, I thank members for their contributions, particularly old Statler and Waldorf up the back there. And if people do not know who they are, Statler and Waldorf are a pair of Muppet characters. They are two disagreeable old men who first appeared in the television series the Muppet Show and heckled the rest of the cast from their balcony seats.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Porter): Excuse me, Mr Hanson, just a minute. Would you mind referring to people by their proper names instead of by those of cartoon characters.
MR HANSON: Sure.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: I do require you to refer to people by their proper names.
MR HANSON: I certainly will.
Ms Burch: Madam Deputy Speaker, on a point of order, we have had many a comment withdrawn, and I would ask that that comment be withdrawn. I think it is a derogatory comment on members in the chamber.
Mr Smyth: On the point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker, he has already withdrawn, and the minister should wake up and pay attention to the proceedings of the house instead of wasting time with spurious points of order.
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