28 October 2014

New walk-in centres prove popular in first months

| Canfan
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Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher has released new figures that show a strong take-up of services at the new Belconnen and Tuggeranong nurse-led Walk-in Centres, with 9310 presentations since their opening in June 2014. This is compared with 5,737 presentations for the same date range in 2013 at Canberra Hospital Walk-in-Centre.

“Canberrans have embraced the new locations for the popular nurse-led walk-in centres in Belconnen and Tuggeranong with almost twice as many people visiting the new centres than was recorded at the Canberra Hospital location in the same months in 2013,” the Chief Minister said.

“The ACT Government promised at the last election to open two new Walk-in Centres in Belconnen and Tuggeranong and it is great to see that Canberrans are now enjoying the convenience that these new locations can provide closer to their homes or work.”

The Walk-in Centre in the Tuggeranong Town Centre saw 5546 presentations between 26 June 2014 and 30 September 2014 which is an average of 57 patients per day. The highest number of presentations since opening at Tuggeranong was 87 on Monday 18 August 2014.

The Belconnen Walk-in Centre (WiC) has seen 4040 between its opening date of 1 July 2014 and 30 September 2014. This is an average of 40 patients per day. The highest number of presentations since opening at Belconnen was 70 on Wednesday 20 August 2014.

The Chief Minister said the trends of patient presentations from different areas of Canberra were consistent with the patterns, by region, that presented at the Canberra Hospital Walk-in Centre.
“The statistics that the government collected from presentations to the initial Canberra Hospital centre showed that there was a higher proportion of south side residents who used the Walk-in Centre service.

“I am confident that patient numbers from the north side of Canberra will continue to grow as residents become more familiar with the benefits of the service.”
Nurse-led walk-in centres are designed to provide an alternative service for minor illnesses and injuries rather than presenting to the Emergency Department.
“These walk-in centres are a great alternative for people who don’t want to wait at the Emergency Department and it also helps to make sure that our ED’s are reserved for the most serious cases,” the Chief Minister concluded.

(Katy Gallagher Media Release)

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Antagonist said :

How many of those walk-in patients had to be referred to a GP or emergency because the nurse wasn’t allowed (or did not have the expertise) to treat the presented problem?

I’ve been treated a few times by nurse practitioners and been very impressed. I wonder if the nurse practitioner is a extra qualification to the standard nursing qualification?

I got stuffed up by a doctor and he sent me to the Belco Centre (as it was several years ago) to treat the damage. The nurses were terrific, taught be how to dress the wound and monitored the progress for 3 months till it healed.

I took Mr 9 to the Belco one a few weeks ago and was very impressed. It was a Saturday lunchtime but we waited maybe 15 minutes and the nurse was very thorough.

I used the Tuggers one a few weeks ago. I got cleaned up by a magpie and couldn’t stop the bleeding. So thinkin it might need a stich, down I wandered. Filled out the form , waited a few mins, and in I went. The cheerful Lady cleaned the gash, and put a big bandage on it. Gave me a tetanus shot, and off I went. Took about 20 mins. Very thankful to them.

Look the walk in centres are good but they are really quite limited in what they can treat, which is really frustrating. They really need to broaden the scope.

ChiefMinisterMediaTeam3:48 pm 30 Oct 14

thatsnotme said :

It’s just a shame that there was no mention in this media release of where the walk in centres actually are! I now know that I can head to the Tuggeranong Town Centre, or Belconnen.

I know these releases aren’t announcements of the centres opening, and I know I could google this stuff myself, but would it really hurt to mention addresses on every release about these places?

Hi thatsnotme.

Sorry we didnt include this detail in the media release. If it is not too late and you havent found the locations online you will find the popular walk-in centres at these locations. We hope this helps. (CMO Media).

Belconnen Walk-in Centre:

Belconnen Community Health Centre. Corner Lathlain and Cohen Streets, Belconnen.

Tuggeranong Walk-in Centre:

Tuggeranong Community Health Centre. Corner Anketell And Pitman Streets, Tuggeranong.

thatsnotme said :

It’s just a shame that there was no mention in this media release of where the walk in centres actually are! I now know that I can head to the Tuggeranong Town Centre, or Belconnen.

I know these releases aren’t announcements of the centres opening, and I know I could google this stuff myself, but would it really hurt to mention addresses on every release about these places?

The Tuggeranong one is not that well signposted or even easy to find IMO. I found it by accident, when I didn’t need it, but at least i know where it is, across the road from the college/library and near the bus interchange end of the hyperdome. Some signs would aid those that are ill to find the place and the entrance at least.

How many of those walk-in patients had to be referred to a GP or emergency because the nurse wasn’t allowed (or did not have the expertise) to treat the presented problem?

It’s just a shame that there was no mention in this media release of where the walk in centres actually are! I now know that I can head to the Tuggeranong Town Centre, or Belconnen.

I know these releases aren’t announcements of the centres opening, and I know I could google this stuff myself, but would it really hurt to mention addresses on every release about these places?

I really liked using the walk in centre in Belconnen.

I originally went to see my GP but he was on holidays, and I had to see another doctor at the same surgery. I felt like I had been fobbed off and not taken seriously with what I was seeking treatment for, add to this that I paid $75 for the privilege, before the Medicare refund.

After a couple of days of no improvement, I was loathed to go back to the GP, and decided to try the walk in centre after being unable to find anywhere I could get another opinion. The staff there were very friendly, helpful and I was seen within 15 minutes of arrival. I left with helpful instructions on how to deal with my health complaint and an understanding of the causes, and as a result of the care there, I was healthy enough again to eat and drink within 24 hours, and back at work a couple of days after that.

Next time I am ill enough to feel the need to see a doctor, I will definitely go there first.

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