[Greens-Media] QLD GREENS MEDIA RELEASE: Greens launch health policy outside closed child health centre

[Qld Greens Media]

*QLD GREENS: MEDIA RELEASE*

*Thursday 7th September 2006*

*Greens launch health policy outside closed child health centre*

The Greens will launch their state health policy today outside the 
closed community child health centre at Indooroopilly today at 11:15am.
Amongst the key features of the health policy, the document calls for 
increased numbers of, and funding for community health centres, the 
establishment of a broad range of well funded support and care options 
for people with mental illness, and an increase to adolescent mental 
health services.
Greens lead spokesperson, Juanita Wheeler, said the underlying 
philosophy of the Greens policy is ‘prevention is better than cure’.
“We believe that preventing disease is better than treating it. We 
believe that making sure hospitals are well staffed, well equipped and 
efficient is better than investing in lawyers once the patients have 
slipped through the cracks.
“We believe that preventative health care which supports Queenslanders 
to remain well is the best way to reduce the demands on our hospital 
system,” Ms Wheeler said.
“The Greens see health as the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual 
well-being of people, not merely the absence of disease and illness, and 
our policy reflects this holistic approach as defined by the World 
Health Organisation.”

The Greens believe that Governments are responsible for the provision of 
adequately funded, accessible and equitable public health services.

“The Greens intend to work to provide this for them,” Ms Wheeler said.
The Greens policy includes:

* Providing increased funding to meet the needs for health
professionals and hospital services.

* Increasing the number and funding of community primary health care
centres.

* Establishing programs to improve the health care of mentally ill
people, using options including funded counselling and
psychological services and more acute care beds, but also
supported accommodation.

* Increasing adolescent mental health services.

* Increasing the availability of respite care and support accommodation.

* Increasing the number and funding of pain clinics and palliative
care services.

*Enabling people to achieve a peaceful and reliable death at a time
and place of one’s choosing.

Greens candidates Judy Petroeschevsky and Joss Hall will join Greens 
lead spokesperson, Juanita Wheeler to launch the policy.


*-ENDS-*


For further information please contact:

Juanita Wheeler

Candidate for Mount Coot-tha

Spokesperson, Queensland Greens


Mobile: 0402 487 110

-- 
www.qld.greens.org.au

State election Spokesperson. Juanita Wheeler 0402 487 110

Queensland Greens media spokespeople.

Climate Change and Indigenous. Drew Hutton 0428 487 110
Human Rights and Environment. Juanita Wheeler 0402 487 110
Transport and Planning. Greg George 0424 725 719

Queensland Greens campaign coordinator.
Ian Gittus 0422 542 370

Office 3846 0862
fax 3844 4654

www.qld.greens.org.au