Stirling Griff (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) that this week is Bone and Joint Awareness Week, and today, 17 October 2017, is World Orthopaedic Trauma Day,

(ii) that Australians who suffer orthopaedic trauma have access to excellent emergency care (ambulance and paramedic services) which positively impacts the outcomes they experience, however, some experience fragmented ongoing care,

(iii) the primary role played by the Australian Orthopaedic Association (the Association) and its fellows in providing Australians with excellent orthopaedic fracture care,

(iv) the important role of the Association's Orthopaedic Outreach in assisting our Pacific Island neighbours with developing fracture care and improving outcomes, especially in the wake of orthopaedic trauma,

(v) that Orthopaedic Outreach is entirely funded by donations and by pro bono care provided by fellows of the Association, but this only funds a limited service, requiring the Association to seek external funding in order to grow this successful program,

(vi) that the Federal Government provides some funding towards the Pacific Islands Project (PIP) administered by the Royal Australian College of Surgeons for surgical care delivery, and

(vii) the pivotal role of the Pacific Islands Orthopaedic Association in developing an innovative program to train doctors in orthopaedic fracture care in the major Pacific Island countries, including Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomons, Samoa, Vanuatu, Kiribati, American Samoa and Micronesia; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) work with state governments to ensure that Australia continues to develop integrated trauma services dedicated to providing Australians with high quality ongoing trauma care from accident site to rehabilitation,

(ii) work with state governments and the Australian orthopaedic community to reduce public hospital waiting times so as to ensure equitable and timely access for all Australians to life-changing surgical technology for artificial joint replacement for severe arthritis,

(iii) prioritise funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the Pacific Islands Project and consider providing funding to Orthopaedic Outreach and the Pacific Islands Orthopaedic Association towards training for trauma care in the Pacific Islands, and

(iv) assist Pacific Island countries in the development of specialty health networks similar to the model developed by the Pacific Islands Orthopaedic Association.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will continue to work with the state governments on this matter, as we do for all health related matters with the states. Australia supports improved health outcomes in the Pacific, including on health security and non-communicable diseases. The Australian government has committed $7.5 million to the Pacific Islands Program in 2016-17 to help deploy visiting medical teams to 10 Pacific countries in 12 specialised areas. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons works closely with the Pacific Islands Orthopaedic Association.

Question agreed to.