Page 296 - Week 01 - Thursday, 27 February 2014
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MS GALLAGHER: We had a review into the operations of the walk-in centre where there was a recommendation around having some doctors in a mentoring relationship with the nurse practitioners. That has progressed through to looking at how we are going to open these walk-in centres in Belconnen and Tuggeranong, which are due to open in the first half of this year. It was not that doctors be present in the walk-in centre but, where necessary, to have the capacity for the senior practitioners, the senior clinical leaders, in the walk-in centre to seek information from a GP or a qualified medical practitioner available through ACT Health. I know one GP in particular has been working very closely with the nursing staff at the walk-in centre and provides a role as a mentor to those staff.
We are not looking to have doctors located in the walk-in centre, and I do not think, the community GPs in particular would support that. We are doing some work at the moment speaking with local GPs, the AMA and Medicare Local around the opening of the walk-in centres in the community to make sure there is seamless referral and that, if patients are being seen, say, in Tuggeranong and they have a GP in Tuggeranong, there is a good handover of information to that GP.
The way it is going at the moment is that whilst some of the GPs are not that happy about the walk-in centre opening in the community, they are working with us to make sure patient needs are cared for first.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, can you advise whether the walk-in centre at TCH will close once the centres in Belconnen and Tuggeranong are operational?
MS GALLAGHER: Yes, it will and I think I have been on the record saying that before. It will. Our commitment is to double the funding to the walk-in centres. We have done that. Also, there will be redevelopment in the area that the Woden walk-in centre is currently operating on.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, what services will be provided at the new walk-in centre at Tuggeranong?
MS GALLAGHER: All the services that are provided at the Woden one at the moment. It will be for similar-type patients—for minor injuries, low acuity illnesses, colds, flus, ear infections. They will be able to do some imaging and ordering of X-rays. They do wound management. So all of those types of services will be available at both Belconnen and Tuggeranong.
From my reading of the feedback that we have around the walk-in centre, it is still an incredibly popular option for people, particularly out of hours. I expect that that will continue with the model in both Tuggeranong and Belconnen when they open. They will be really well received. In fact I think 40 per cent of all presentations to the Canberra Hospital walk-in centre come from Tuggeranong post codes. So I feel pretty
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