Page 3314 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 22 September 2015
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is an increase of 50 per cent. Some 56 people died from diabetes in the ACT in 2012, and we know it is also a contributing factor in a range of other deaths, particularly where the cause of death is reported as being related to cardiovascular or renal disease.
These remain very significant issues for us to address as a community, along with the other most common causes of death cancer: cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, accidents and injuries and dementia.
We need to focus very strongly on these issues, but there is also encouraging news. We are continuing to see death rates declining for many leading health concerns, including in those areas of cancer and cardiovascular disease. We see a significant decrease in the number of Canberrans who are smoking—down from 18.6 per cent in 2007-08 to 15 per cent in 20011-12. That is well below the Australian average of 18 per cent. Smoking rates for secondary school students are now very low—down to 5.8 per cent.
The trend in alcohol consumption among secondary school kids is also down—from 85 per cent reporting drinking behaviours in 2008 to 73 per cent in 2011. There has been an increase in the number of adults undertaking sufficient physical activity—from 56 per cent in 2009-10 to nearly 60 per cent in 2011-12. This is an encouraging sign in response to the government’s active lifestyle and active living agenda to try to tackle some of the issues associated with inactivity. Whilst we face particular challenges, we also see some encouraging improvements, and the government’s focus will be on service delivery and infrastructure to help meet these challenges. (Time expired.)
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Fitzharris.
MS FITZHARRIS: Minister, what types of services does ACT Health fund to improve public health outcomes?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Fitzharris for her supplementary. Last year alone there were over 80,000 occasions of service provided by community care nurses treating people either in community health centres or in people’s own homes. That is good news for the patient and that is good news for our hospital system. It is why the government is continuing to invest in and improve capability in the community care sector.
There are many services offered within community health centres, including the traditional mix of community health multidisciplinary services across all ages, including antenatal care, nursing, podiatry, physiotherapy, nutrition, mental health, social work and a range of other services.
Of course, this government has expanded community health treatment options, including our walk-in centres and offering extended hours services for a range of minor illnesses and injuries. We have supported the improvement in access to the after-hours GP service, including the CALMS service—the Canberra Afterhours Locum Medical Service.
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