Taking Pressure off Canberra Hospital’s Emergency Department

The Rudd Government today announced $10 million to establish a ‘Walk-in Centre’ at The Canberra Hospital, to help take pressure off its busy emergency department. This funding will mean development of a new Nurse-led Walk-in Centre at The Canberra Hospital will begin in July 2009 and be operational in June 2010. From June 2010, more minor cases will be able to be treated at the Walk-in Centre – helping to take pressure off the emergency department and allowing staff to concentrate on more serious and life-threatening cases. The Canberra Hospital’s emergency department sees approximately 53,000 patients a year – approximately 40 per cent of them with minor ailments such as coughs and colds, minor cuts and wounds, and muscle strains and sprains. The new clinic will be operational 16 hours per day, seven days a week. It is estimated that it will provide up to 30,000 services annually.