Katy Gallagher’s spending the day on GP goodliness.
First up is announcing the terms of reference for the GP taskforce which will hopefully put the doctor issue to bed for at least a few months if she’s lucky:
- 1. To review and consolidate work already undertaken by the ACT and Commonwealth governments on access to primary care services in the ACT;
2. To explore and recommend on legislative options to protect the rights of patients and the health workforce;
3. To advise on workforce demand and training issues in primary health care, with regard to current available published information;
4. To explore and recommend on options and innovations to improve access to primary health care services in the ACT, including opportunities that may arise in the Commonwealth – State and Territory health reform agenda;
5.To consider and make recommendations on provisions to improve access to primary care services for vulnerable populations, including the aged, people with mental illness and the isolated.
While she’s on the subject Katy’s also responded to the report into the Wanniassa Medical Centre debacle:
- The Minister said the Government had agreed to five of the Committee’s recommendations which related to:
— investigating the possibility of incorporating provisions in crown leases to protect community interests;
— investigating the collection of data about general practitioner workforce issues in the different regional areas of Canberra;
— consulting with Regional Community Services regarding the demand for transport to medical appointments for the frail aged and people with disabilities;
— ensuring that Primary Health Care Pty Ltd is meeting its lease requirements by providing the appropriate number of car parking spaces; and
— using the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission to raise concerns about the impact of the Australian Government legislation on the provision of GP services in the ACT.
A lot of conversation, not much action.