ACT Government supporting access to primary health care

ACT Health Minister, Katy Gallagher MLA, said today that the Government was supporting access to primary health care by developing a nurse-led Walk-in Centre, investing $12 million to support and grow our GP workforce, and securing additional GP training places for Canberra.

The Minister made the comments after disappointing figures released by the Commonwealth Government showing the ACT’s bulk billing rates had dropped further to 46.4 per cent in the December quarter 2009.

“Although state and territory governments do not regulate general practice or have any role in determining the appropriate Medicare rebates, the ACT Government is working hard to improve access to primary health care where it can,” Ms Gallagher said.

“Construction of our Walk-in Centre at the Canberra Hospital is well underway with the centre expected to open in May.

“The Walk-in Centre will provide fast access to health advice and treatment for people aged over two years for a range of minor illnesses and injuries such as coughs, colds, cuts and sprains.

“Recruitment is currently underway for staff for the Walk-in Centre including an Assistant Director of Nursing, four Nurse Practitioners, eight Advanced Practice Nurses and several receptionists.

“It is unfortunate that in the ACT the GP shortage does affect the level of bulk billing, however we are seeing an upward trend in the number of GPs working in Canberra, with the latest Report on Government Services showing in 2008-09 there were 67 FWE GPs per 100,000 compared to 61.5 in 2004-05.”

The Minister said the Government was also in the process of rolling out its $12 million investment in General Practice announced in the 2009-10 Budget. This investment enables the Government to progress a number of initiatives including:

• scholarships for ANU medical students who commit to working in the ACT;
• a GP Development Fund providing one-off incentive payments to general practices for initiatives that attract and retain staff, establish new services, support disadvantaged groups and improve access to general practice. Applications for this fund are currently open;
• GP teaching payments for Canberra GPs who provide training opportunities for ANU Medical School trainees; and
• a new GP Aged Day Service to improve access to General Practitioners for elderly Canberra residents who are house-bound or living in aged care facilities. The Government is currently inviting proposals from providers interested in delivering this service.

“I am continuing to work closely with my federal counterpart Nicola Roxon to see what more can be done to assist the ACT. Those discussions have recently resulted in the Commonwealth agreeing to provide an additional five general practice training places for Canberra in 2010,” Ms Gallagher said.

“This is not something that can be solved overnight but over time we do expect to see many more students graduating from the ANU medical school. The challenge will be enticing those students into general practice.”

12 February 2010