Page 2397 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 30 July 2019
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is 46,000 patients treated by skilled, advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners with extensive experience and training.
Since the opening of the Belconnen and Tuggeranong nurse-led walk-in centres, the government has embarked on a project to expand the walk-in centre network around the territory. By the end of 2020 there will be five nurse-led walk-in centres around Canberra.
The establishment of walk-in centres has meant that the government has invested in 26 more advanced practice nurses and eight nurse practitioners to provide specialised health care to the Canberra community. The additional two walk-in centres will see another 23 new nursing positions created to deliver primary health care for our city.
The past five years has seen a growth in nurse-led health care around Canberra because this government has made the investments necessary to support our nurses and our community in growing our walk-in centre network. The past five years of successes in nurse-led walk-in centres has shown that nurses are an absolutely critical aspect of our healthcare system in the ACT. It is important that we continue to treat them with the respect they deserve, the respect that is duly afforded to any professional with extensive education, training and skills.
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, what is happening in respect of the future of nurse-led walk-in centres?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mr Pettersson for the supplementary. A new nurse-led walk-in centre opened in Gungahlin in 2018, as Mr Gupta mentioned, and has since been seeing, on average, over 50 patients a day. Up to 200 patients per day are seen across the three nurse-led walk-in centres.
Announced in June this year, work on the new Weston Creek walk-in centre is already underway and it is due to open later this year. Of course, in the budget the government announced its plans for a new inner north walk-in centre to be located in Dickson. The inner north walk-in centre will be our fifth walk-in centre and will continue building on the success of the walk-in centres over the past five years.
The expansion of the walk-in centre network demonstrates this Labor government’s commitment to a modern, innovative and person-centred health system. Certainly, many Canberrans that I speak to in my electorate are very excited to have the opportunity of a walk-in centre coming to them, and I look forward to its opening next year.
Walk-in centres are one of the territory’s stand-out public health success stories. Canberra is better for having nurse-led walk-in centres. Building on the positive work of Minister Fitzharris, this government will get on with the job of making record investments in health, expanding the walk-in centre network and supporting our nurse practitioner workforce.
Health is one of the most critical aspects of our society’s wellbeing. It is important to everyone, and it makes sense to invest in health care when and where our community
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