Canberra has protected its reputation as the community with the longest life expectancy in the nation, the highest immunisation rates and fastest ambulance response times following the Productivity Commission’s latest national Report on Government Services.
Welcoming the report’s findings, Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Meegan Fitzharris said the best city in Australia could also be the healthiest.
“We’re investing in our health services and in preventive health programs to help Canberrans stay active, live longer and live well,” Ms Fitzharris said.
“The report shows that people in the ACT continue to enjoy the longest life expectancy in Australia, a position we have maintained for more than a decade.”
She said there was more to be done.
“Everyone, including our leadership teams within ACT Health and Canberra Health Services and Calvary Public Hospital, our nurses, doctors, allied health professionals and the thousands of other staff who make up our public health system, are working hard to deliver the health care Canberrans expect,” Ms Fitzharris said.
“In 2019 the ACT Government will continue to focus on improving waiting times and building the hospital infrastructure of the future.”
She said she was pleased the ACT community was leading the nation in immunisation coverage across all age groups.
“We continue to lead the country in vaccination rates,” she said.
“In 2017-18 we were the only State or Territory to achieve at least 95 per cent immunisation coverage for every vaccine available on the National Immunisation Program, for children aged 12 months to less than 15 months.
“Canberrans are being diligent about cancer screening too, with participation rates above the national average for breast, cervical and bowel cancer screening.”
She said it was also great to see growth in the number of doctors working in the ACT, with 51 per cent more GPs in 2017-18 than there were in 2008-09.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Gordon Ramsay also noted that the ACT Ambulance Service had once again recorded the best response times in the country even as demand continued to increase.
The Productivity Commission’s full report can be accessed at this PS News link.
