The ACT Government has today welcomed a massive investment in Canberra health services should Federal Labor win the next election.
The investment will go a long way to improving the health of people living in the Canberra region and help reverse the impact of the Liberal Party’s cuts to public hospitals.
“This commitment from Bill Shorten and Federal Labor today will be a huge boost to the ACT health system, to patients and staff, and will cover a broad range of services across Canberra’s north and south,” said Minister for Health and Wellbeing Meegan Fitzharris.
“A new Outpatient Clinic in Canberra’s north will help to ensure more people get access to specialist appointments, deliver timely care for common surgical procedures, and boost access to elective surgery.
“We know palliative care is a growing service in our region, and a new in-patient clinic for palliative care services at Canberra Hospital will greatly assist families who have a loved one needing end-of-life care and support.
“We are also looking forward to being able to make further investments in the QEII Family Centre through this commitment, which will allow us to expand services to more families in our community.
“These commitments were all requested by the ACT Government and it is great to see they will be delivered under a Shorten Labor Government.
“We understand a Shorten Labor Government would also commit to expanding the Intensive Care Unit at Canberra Hospital, invest in youth mental health and suicide prevention programs, deliver a residential eating disorder centre and expand drug and alcohol programs and services for Canberra.
“All of these investments highlight that Federal Labor will give Canberra a better deal on health care and make the necessary investments to ensure our health system can continue to meet the demands of our growing city,” said Minister Fitzharris.