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Canberra Today 16°/17° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Labor promises more money for nurses

health

ANDREW Barr sayd a re-elected Labor government will attract, retain and support more nurses under a new nursing package.

“Healthcare has always been a priority for ACT Labor,” Andrew said.

“That’s why we are already expanding the emergency department, building a new teaching hospital and opening two more free nurse walk-in centres.

“And it’s why, if re-elected, we will invest more than $36 million over four years into boosting and supporting the nursing workforce in Canberra.

“The $36.34 million, five-point plan for nursing includes:

  • 12 new Nurse Navigators to help support complex patients ($6.94m)
  • More opportunities for training, with a new nurse practitioner course at the University of Canberra and more nurse scholarships ($2.55m)
  • Two new Maternal and Child Health nurses ($1.24m)
  • Employing 12 more graduate nurses each year, taking the total employed each year to more than 100 ($21.82m)
  • Employing a further six school nurses – taking the total to 10 – which will allow all ACT Government schools access to a school nurse ($3.79m)
  • This boost comes in addition to the 48 new nurses that were announced yesterday as part of significant upgrades at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.

“This announcement is also about workforce planning and Labor will continue to give nurses the training and the career paths they deserve. We are planning for the future because we know we need more nurses, doctors, allied health and other clinical services staff over the next decade.

“This package will result in 68 new nurses coming on line across Canberra over the next four years. Canberra’s nurses will be easier to access and better trained than ever before because of this investment.”

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Ian Meikle, editor

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