18 September 2024
More free healthcare for Canberra’s northside
Labor will always invest in free public health care to provide Canberrans with access to more health services, closer to home.
A re-elected Labor Government will provide Canberrans with easier access to free x-rays and ultrasounds through a new public medical imaging service in Belconnen.
The medical imaging service will be co-located with the Belconnen Walk-in Centre, supporting people who present to the Walk-in Centre with access to medical imaging immediately, without needing to book another service or visit a different location.
Providing more imaging services in the community will help to free up the hospital imaging services and reduce wait times for patients with urgent and complex needs.
Canberrans will also be able to book an x-ray or ultrasound through the Canberra Health Services booking system or be referred by a GP.
This new service builds on the success of the Weston Creek medical imaging service - a 2020 Labor election commitment delivered in May 2023.
More than 11,000 patients have accessed the imaging service at Weston Creek since 1 June 2023. Over that period, around 3,000 patients attended a Walk-in Centre and received an x-ray the same day.
To support Labor’s commitment to deliver more health services in the community, a re-elected Labor Government will also start construction on the new health centre in West Belconnen. The new Health Centre will be built in Macnamara to support the growing population in Ginninderry and West Belconnen.
The centre will be staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of nursing, medical and allied health professionals.
Labor will also expand the planned North Gungahlin Health Centre in Casey to include spaces for community organisations. This could include information sessions, parents’ groups and classes to promote health and wellbeing.
A re-elected ACT Labor Government will continue to invest in more health infrastructure and deliver more health services so Canberrans can access the right care, in the right place and at the right time.
Quotes attributable to Andrew Barr:
“A new public imaging service in Belconnen is another example of Labor working to deliver more health services for Canberrans. We will invest in health services across the Territory so people can access the right healthcare, in the right place and at the right time.
“Labor built our network of nurse-led Walk-in Centres and only a Labor Government will keep investing in them so every Canberran can access free public healthcare when they need it.”
Quote attributable to Rachel Stephen-Smith:
“We have heard clearly from Canberrans that they want access to more local health services, and we know investing more in preventive and community-based care takes pressure off our hospitals.
“From a new Northside Hospital to expanded services in our Walk-in Centres and new Health Centres, we will keep investing in our public health system.
“Labor has a plan to build more health infrastructure and deliver better services to meet the growing health needs of our community.”
Statement ends
Media contact:
Kaarin Dynon 0422 772 215 [email protected]
