A roadmap for ACT Government child and adolescent health services has been released today.
The Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Plan 2023-2030 builds on previous work to improve and strengthen services for children, adolescents and their families.
Development of the Plan was overseen by the Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Expert Panel and is a key deliverable of the ACT Health Services Plan 2022-2030 released in August 2022.
The Plan was developed through consultation with a range of stakeholders, as well as analysis of data to ensure actions build on and improve services across Canberra's public health system. This includes work to strengthen the relationship between Canberra Health Services and the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA said the Plan sets out the roadmap to better respond to the needs of children and their families across acute, outpatient and community services.
"While we have been boosting investment in child and youth services in recent years, the Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Plan will further guide the development of services for children, adolescents and their families where and when they need them," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
"The early years of life are vital and we are committed to providing the best possible care for young Canberrans from early childhood through to their transition to adult services.
"The outcomes and priorities identified in this Plan complement other key pieces of work across maternity services, the first 1000 days of a child's life, preventative health and the ACT Health Services Plan, as well as recent reviews and ongoing initiatives in paediatric services.
"Responding to initial advice of the Expert Panel the 2023-24 ACT Budget invested an additional $15.8 million for new paediatric services, more paediatric health professionals and training at the Canberra Hospital Emergency Department to start delivering on key areas of service improvement," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
"I would like to thank the Expert Panel members for their commitment and dedication in supporting the future health and wellbeing of Canberra's children, adolescents and their families. I also extend my gratitude to everyone who took time to contribute and provide feedback during the process."
Quotes attributable to Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Expert Panel Independent Chair, Professor Michael Brydon OAM:
This planning brings the opportunity to build on the good things already happening in Canberra. A plan's goal is to improve and strengthen things, particularly in the way that children move between Sydney and Canberra for some of the very complex chronic conditions. It also prioritised those children who need early intervention so they can return to good health more quickly and possibly reach their full potential.
We've developed this plan to make sure health services can identify the children with the most needs, and also make sure those children get the best services possible. We've listened to the parents, the families and, of course, the staff. We've looked at the local information and we have incorporated successful initiatives from experts elsewhere. We are confident this plan will be a very positive way forward.
It has been a privilege to have worked with the other panel members. Their wealth of knowledge and expertise has been a great asset to draw upon and I would like to publicly thank them for their efforts. It has been wonderful to have their courage to make difficult decisions to set priorities that are based on children's needs, children of today and for decades ahead.
Quotes attributable to Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Expert Panel Health Care Consumers Association Representative, Dr Fiona Tito Wheatland:
As a consumer with a strong and abiding interest in the provision of high-quality health services to children and young people, I have enjoyed working on the expert panel. The panel was chaired with great skill by Professor Brydon, and Canberra has been fortunate to have expert input from a number of other states through the panel's interstate members, as well as high-level local expertise.
Our health system is enmeshed in our geography and it's a two-way street. We need expertise from Sydney for our kids who need specialised health care, and NSW needs us for those children in Southern NSW, where care can be provided safely. We have built on the previous work on Kids in Interstate Care, which has developed since HCCA's research report in 2019. The aim is to streamline these processes, improve communication and make sure kids and families have clear paths and support when their children need care interstate.
