Sussan Ley

On Sunday the Turnbull Government announced our 2016 mental health policy which ensures the best help for people with mental health issues. Here are a few facts. Funding for the mental health care of young Australians was never - I repeat never - going to be cut, and our 2016 election policy commits an extra $192 million to look after the mental health of the nation. We will continue funding for six Early Psychosis Youth Services and 100 headspace services, as well as investing $20 million for another 10 new headspace sites. All the details are here https://www.facebook.com/SussanLeyMP/photos/a.210576405676406.50649.198830586850988/1049164331817605/?type=3&theater

Claims today mental health phone help lines are being cut are WRONG. Here are the facts. Based on advice from the independent Mental Health Commission, from 2017 the Coalition’s digital mental health ‘gateway’ will give Australians the option to call one single phone number to then directly access the phone and online service they need. This single call will act as a ‘triage’ service putting people in touch with a specialist phone or online service best suited to their personal circumstances. The service is not designed to replace existing specialised mental health phone counselling services, such as those used for eating disorders, but improve access to them. You will still be able to call a preferred phone counselling service directly if you believe it is the best service to help. Feel free to link here for more information... https://goo.gl/lezkzn

Claims today mental health phone help lines are being cut are WRONG. Here are the facts. Based on advice from the independent Mental Health Commission, from 2017 the Coalition’s digital mental health ‘gateway’ will give Australians the option to call one single phone number to then directly access the phone and online service they need. This single call will act as a ‘triage’ service putting people in touch with a specialist phone or online service best suited to their personal circumstances. The service is not designed to replace existing specialised mental health phone counselling services, such as those used for eating disorders, but improve access to them. You will still be able to call a preferred phone counselling service directly if you believe it is the best service to help. Feel free to link here for more information... https://goo.gl/lezkzn

Claims today mental health phone help lines are being cut are WRONG. Here are the facts. Based on advice from the independent Mental Health Commission, from 2017 the Coalition’s digital mental health ‘gateway’ will give Australians the option to call one single phone number to then directly access the phone and online service they need. This single call will act as a ‘triage’ service putting people in touch with a specialist phone or online service best suited to their personal circumstances. The service is not designed to replace existing specialised mental health phone counselling services, such as those used for eating disorders, but improve access to them. You will still be able to call a preferred phone counselling service directly if you believe it is the best service to help. Feel free to link here for more information... https://goo.gl/lezkzn

Claims today mental health phone help lines are being cut are WRONG. Here’s the facts http://goo.gl/FMc9zs

Claims today mental health phone help lines are being cut are WRONG. Here’s the facts http://goo.gl/FMc9zs

On the weekend, it was my absolute pleasure to join with the Prime Minister to announce a re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government will invest $54 million to subsidise continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology for children and young adults under 21 years old facing extra challenges managing their Type 1 diabetes. I have heard and related to many touching personal stories and hopefully this announcement will help relieve some of the stress, anxiety and even just daily difficulties that children and parents living with this situation can face every day. But what makes this case truly special is the advocacy of yourselves and experts such as JDRF and Diabetes Australia, who put forward reliable evidence in an ongoing dialogue with Government to support this significant taxpayer investment, because ultimately we must find the money to pay for it one way or another. Just like our world-first decision to list cures for all Hep C sufferers on the PBS, funding CGMs for children who need them is a clear example of why it’s important we undertake reforms, such as building a Healthier Medicare, and what can be achieved when we ensure health spending is efficient, evidenced-based and every dollar lands as close to patient as possible. Full details on yesterday’s announcement can be found here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1023975371003168&substory_index=0&id=198830586850988 Best Wishes Sussan

On the weekend, it was my absolute pleasure to join with the Prime Minister to announce a re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government will invest $54 million to subsidise continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology for children and young adults under 21 years old facing extra challenges managing their Type 1 diabetes. I have heard and related to many touching personal stories and hopefully this announcement will help relieve some of the stress, anxiety and even just daily difficulties that children and parents living with this situation can face every day. But what makes this case truly special is the advocacy of yourselves and experts such as JDRF and Diabetes Australia, who put forward reliable evidence in an ongoing dialogue with Government to support this significant taxpayer investment, because ultimately we must find the money to pay for it one way or another. Just like our world-first decision to list cures for all Hep C sufferers on the PBS, funding CGMs for children who need them is a clear example of why it’s important we undertake reforms, such as building a Healthier Medicare, and what can be achieved when we ensure health spending is efficient, evidenced-based and every dollar lands as close to patient as possible. Full details on yesterday’s announcement can be found here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1023975371003168&substory_index=0&id=198830586850988 Best Wishes Sussan

Landmark medicinal cannabis legislation introduced today The Turnbull Government today introduces landmark legislation providing the “missing piece” for Australian patients and their doctors to access a safe, legal and reliable supply of medicinal cannabis products for the management of painful and chronic conditions. Minister for Health Sussan Ley today announced the amendments to the Narcotics Drugs Act 1967 would allow the controlled cultivation of cannabis for medicinal or scientific purposes through one single national licensing scheme – an Australian first. Ms Ley said, if passed, this legislation would open the way for Australians with painful and chronic conditions to get access to the relief they needed where this was determined by their doctors to be of potential benefit. “This is an important day for Australia and the many advocates who have fought long and hard to challenge the stigma around medicinal cannabis products,” Ms Ley said. “For Australia, this is the missing piece in a patient’s journey. “Importantly, having a safe, legal and reliable source of products will ensure medical practitioners are now at the centre of the decision making process on whether medicinal cannabis may be beneficial for their patient.” Ms Ley said the Turnbull Government had worked closely with the states and territories, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders over the past eight weeks to ensure this legislation was “robust” before bringing it to Parliament to give it the best chance of a smooth passage. “I am also aware of the passion of many MPs and Senators from all sides of politics towards making this happen and I thank them for their contributions so far,” Ms Ley said. “I sincerely hope the Parliament can continue to work together to pass this legislation in a bipartisan fashion as quickly as possible in the interest of Australian patients seeking access to medicinal cannabis.” Currently, there are provisions already in place allowing the legal production and distribution of medicinal cannabis products to patients through various means via the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 and the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. This includes authorised prescribers such as specialists working with particular patient groups and clinical trials run by research institutions and state and territory governments. However, Australia does not currently have a safe, legal and reliable supply of locally-grown cannabis to allow the manufacture of therapeutic products or satisfy this demand, hence why today’s legislation has been described as the all-important “missing piece” to patient access. “I am confident creating one single, nationally-consistent cultivation scheme, rather than eight individual arrangements, will not only help speed up the legislative and regulatory process, but ultimately access to medicinal cannabis products as well,” Ms Ley said. “A national regulator will also allow the Government to closely track the development of cannabis products for medicinal use from cultivation to supply and curtail any attempts by criminals to get involved.” Ms Ley said sharing an exposure draft of the legislation with state and territory governments, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders had ensured feedback and contribution on a range of issues, and was essential to navigating this complex legislative path. “The legislation also ensures Australia meets all of its international obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.” Ms Ley said she hoped the legislation would pass in both the House and Senate this sitting of Parliament. Ms Ley reminded Australians today’s announcement did not relate to the decriminalisation of cannabis for general cultivation or recreational use, which remained a law enforcement issue for individual states and territories.

I wanted to let people know that I last night signed off Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recommendation to now give patients 24 months access to Eculizumab before a clinical assessment is required to determine whether or not treatment should continue. This ensures decisions are made without undue influence or pressure about whether a new medicine really will deliver what it promises patients for the price it costs. This is the foundation behind the success of Australia’s world-class system for subsiding medicines and we support this process continuing. I wish May and all sufferers of aHUS the very best with their ongoing treatment and best wishes for the festive season. For more information on announcement: https://www.facebook.com/SussanLeyMP/posts/936390259761680