Page 2443 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 30 July 2019
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I have just outlined a very small part of the ways in which the ACT government supports our nursing workforce here in Canberra. However, we also formally recognise our nurses and midwives in the ACT at the annual Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards. The last awards night was held in May. I understand that 46 nominations were received across five categories from both public and private sector nurses. This is indicative of the high regard the workforce is held in around the territory.
The World Health Organisation has announced 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife. This recognises the outstanding work and dedication of nurses and midwives across the globe and the fact that nurses and midwives are essential to the achievement of universal health coverage. The nurses I have met are an example of the commitment, dedication and passion that our nurses show to patients and families every day.
Being a patient in one of our public hospitals or needing to attend a walk-in centre can be a stressful, daunting or worrying experience. Ms Cheyne’s stories illustrated that people have a range of experiences as they enter a walk-in centre, but Canberrans can have confidence that the great nurses in our hospitals and walk-in centres can provide the best care possible.
Thousands of Canberrans come into contact with our nursing staff every year. Often it is the nursing staff you hear patients and their families speaking so highly about, even years after they have been in hospital. Only today, my office received correspondence from a new mother who highlighted the care and confidence she was provided with on her journey through hospital. She outlined that everyone she and her partner interacted with during the journey was professional, dedicated and happy to share their knowledge with them as nervous first-time parents. She highlighted her wishes that positive stories like hers could be more widely shared. I agree with her. I would encourage those in this place to continue talking about the positive stories that are shared with them as MLAs.
I look forward to meeting more of our city’s nurses, in their varied roles, and working with them and their representatives in my capacity as, I can assure Mr Hanson, a very full time Minister for Health. I want to thank Canberra’s—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Parton): Minister, your time has expired.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I seek leave to continue my remarks.
Mrs Dunne: No.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I have two more sentences.
Mrs Dunne: The matter of public importance is limited by time.
Leave not granted.
Discussion concluded.
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