ONLINE COMMUNITY CONSULTATION FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF CENTRE FOR NEWBORN CARE

ACT Minister for Health Katy Gallagher today announced that Canberra Hospital's Centre for Newborn Care will soon launch an online discussion forum for the parents of former patients to be involved in the centre's redevelopment.

"This is a unique opportunity for the Centre for Newborn Care to involve consumers in important decisions regarding the redevelopment of the Centre under the $1 billion 'Your Health-Our Priority' redevelopment of our healthcare system," Ms Gallagher said.

"The Department of Neonatology at Canberra Hospital has a well-functioning user group with three consumer representatives (parents of former patients) who are outstanding in their enthusiasm and commitment to the group and the centre's redevelopment,"

"The user group wants to encourage participation from other groups such as young mothers and fathers and people living outside Canberra who all find it difficult to attend regular user group meetings and has established a web-based discussion forum for parents of former patients."

"The online forum will be hosted by ACT Health under strict security, and parents can only join by invitation from the Clinical Director of the Department of Neonatology, Associate Professor Kecskes, who will be writing to seek their involvement in this initiative.

"When parents respond they'll be provided with individual log-ins and a link to the forum, and the messages posted by the parents will be screened by a group of moderators before being released on to the website," the Health Minister said.

Parents will need to agree to a formal confidentiality and copyright statement, and the ACT Government Solicitor's Office has been closely involved in addressing legal and privacy issues.

Media Contact:

Warren Tegg 6205 0384 0435 961 012 warren.tegg@act.gov.au