13 July 2016

Expanded trauma service at Canberra Hospital

| Michael Reid
Start the conversation
The Canberra Hospital

The expansion of Canberra Hospital’s trauma service will include an additional six doctors and one new nurse, with an extra $5.3 million in funding to be provided over the next four years in the upcoming ACT budget.

Health minister Simon Corbell said the new funding would provide Canberrans with more timely access to effective, efficient and flexible trauma care when they need it.

“The Canberra Hospital is the designated major trauma centre for the ACT and surrounding areas of New South Wales. This means that it needs to be equipped and able to manage high volumes of trauma and emergency cases that cannot be provided by other facilities,” Corbell said.

“Like all areas of our health system, we are seeing increases in demand and this year’s budget is about expanding existing health care services to ensure it can continue to meet the needs of our community now and into the future.

“As part of this, we are expanding our trauma service to provide more trauma focussed physicians with specialist skills.”

The new funding would also introduce a new model of care for major trauma patients and earlier access to rehabilitation.

Corbell said the expanded trauma service complemented the expansion of the hospital’s emergency department. The government announced earlier this week the budget would inject $29 million over the next four years to provide 54 new health staff.

The 2016-17 ACT budget will be handed down on June 7.

 

Start the conversation

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.