Issues related to Health & Disability

Campbell residents potentially exposed to loose asbestos

ABC Online News and iPrime Canberra are reporting about potential asbestos exposure for residents in Campbell at the site of a house being demolished. There are disturbing reports that ACT Government agencies (ACTPLA and Office of Regulatory Services – Workcover) have been severely talking down the nature of the risks involved despite the fact that samples originating from the demolition project have been confirmed as asbestos and found in neighbouring driveways, yards and gutters.

Invitation to Comment: The Review of the Mental Health (Treatment & Care) Act 1994 (Closing 29 January 2010)

The purpose of the Review of the Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act 1994 (the Act) is to ensure the Act reflects best practice in mental health law, as it has developed over the last 10 years. The introduction of the ACT Human Rights Act 2004 (the HR Act), and the required review for compatibility with the HR Act, provides an appropriate context in which the Review will be carried out. The purpose of the review The purpose of the Review of the Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act 1994 (the Act) is to ensure the Act reflects best practice …

Public forums on proposal for ACT Government to buy Calvary Hospital (16/21 October 2009)

You may have heard in the media that the ACT Government has commenced public consultation on a proposed change to the ownership and governance of Calvary Public Hospital and Clare Holland House. The Government and Little Company of Mary Health Care have reached in-principle agreement on the proposed changes and the Government now wishes to consult with the Canberra community about the best way to proceed.  The consultation will run from 1 October to 12 November 2009.  

Did you know: Ambulances are not a free service

The ACT Ambulance Service (ACTAS) is responsible for providing emergency and non-emergency ambulance services to the ACT community. In providing emergency ambulance services, ACTAS include at least one intensive care paramedic (ICP) on every emergency ambulance. This is the highest level of pre-hospital clinical care provided by any ambulance service in Australia. Non-emergency ambulance services are provided by ICP and Patient Transport Service resources. Patient Transport Service crews undertake routine ambulance transport of patients to, from and between hospitals and other medical facilities. Unfortunately use of the ACT Ambulance Service is NOT a free Service* and fees and charges reflect …

The Chronicle: Terminal underway as master plan ticked off

The September 1 2009  edition of the  Chronicle ran a story written by Rebecca Thisleton reporting on the approval of the master plan for Canberra Airport and the serious concerns that residents have as the Airport evolves. Curfew4Canberra was critical of the decision-making process, as Ms Savigny said there had never been any health assessment to measure the level of sleep disturbance that would occur with jet freighters generating noise throughout the night. “If Airservices Australia believes that they can find ways to minimise aircraft noise at night then this should have been part of the community consultation, not something …

Invitation to comment: Working with Vulnerable People Checks (closing 12 October 2009)

The ACT Government is developing a Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) Checks system as part of its commitment to the support and protection of vulnerable people in the ACT.  The checking system will assist in reducing the incidence of abuse of vulnerable persons.    Abuse can include sexual, physical, emotional or financial harm or neglect.

Consultation: Mental health and suicide prevention (Closing 21 July 2009)

ACT Health is currently conducting public consultations on the following documents: Building a Strong Foundation: Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing in the ACT 2009-2014; and Managing the Risk of Suicide Two: A suicide prevention strategy for the ACT 2009-2014. All documentation including feedback questions are available at www.health.act.gov.au There will be two public consultations sessions occurring in the North Canberra Area, as well as sessions in Belconnen and Tuggeranong:

Have your say on GP issues – North Canberra District Forums (23 & 29 June 2009)

A taskforce has been established to investigate GP workforce issues in the ACT. The ACT needs 74 extra full-time GPs to reach the national average of GPs per head of population. There is also evidence that many GPs are choosing to work part-time in their clinical practice, meaning that potentially double the full-time equivalent of GPs may be needed to fill in the gap. The ACT GP Taskforce invites submissions on the issues and innovations posed in the discussion paper titled Issues and Challenges for General Practice and Primary Health Care: A Discussion Paper. There will be a series of …

ACT Government Swine Flu precautionary measures – 24 May 2009

The ACT Government has decided, as a precautionary measure, to exclude from school for seven days, any student who has returned to Canberra after travel to Mexico, USA, Canada, Japan or Panama. During these seven days, the student should stay home whether or not they have flu symptoms. This is because a person infected with influenza can spread the virus a whole day before they start to feel unwell During the seven days that a student is excluded from school, it should be recommended that they do not attend after-school activities, community events, sporting events or training, public entertainment facilities, …