A Daley Labor Government will deliver six nurse-led Walk-in Health Centres to take pressure off our State's over-stretched emergency departments.
The Walk-in Health Centres will provide free access to low-level health care and provide advice and treatment for common illnesses, as well as treatment for ear aches, cuts, sprains and abrasions.
The NSW health and hospital system - especially the Western Sydney hospitals: Liverpool, Westmead and Nepean - is under enormous pressure with a record 750,000 patients presenting to NSW emergency departments and ambulance services struggling to respond with 306,739 call-outs.
Many of the patients in triage four and five categories could have been seen by a nurse or GP rather than clogging the State's emergency departments. The centres will rely on highly skilled nurses with advanced qualifications such as Nurse Practitioners and the services will be free for all patients with a Medicare card.
The centres will be located at:
- Glenmore Park;
- Kiama;
- Gosford;
- Burwood;
- Waverley in Sydney's east; and
- Camden.
The centres will be modelled on successful ones in the ACT and the United Kingdom. Labor will employ up to 10 nurses as well as administrative staff in the centres. The nurses will see patients in "treatment rooms", which differ from "consulting" rooms of GPs. NSW Labor will provide $25 million for the six nurse-led Walk-in Health centres. The centre will be open from 7.30am to 10pm seven days a week, including public holidays. It will be staffed by nurses and provide free one-off advice and treatment for people aged two years and older with minor injuries and illness.
The centres would provide episodic care, and treat patient's ailments including:
- Colds, sore throats and cases of flu;
- Ear wax removal
- Cuts and abrasions;
- Bites and stings;
- Skin conditions;
- Casts; and
- Minor illness such as gastroenteritis.
NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley said that the NSW health and hospital system is under enormous pressure and the Berejiklian Government has the wrong priorities.
"The Liberals and Nationals are splurging more than $2.2 billion on stadiums. But Labor will invest in schools and hospitals, as well as new approaches such as Nurse-led Walk-in Health Centres. "Labor's investment in the centres will take pressure off our state's emergency departments," Mr Daley said.
Mr Secord said the centres have a proven track record in the United Kingdom and in the Australian Capital Territory.
"Patients get one-to-one support and they do not have to experience lengthy waits in emergency departments."
