Page 1064 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 March 1990
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high need, and the community sector has firmly expressed the view that such a service would best be provided by the Government rather than by other people. That is obviously a matter of concern and we are addressing the need for such a service in the context of the budget.
There has also been discussion on discharge planning in hospitals. The committee found that there were problems with the discharge of elderly persons from hospitals to the community. If one looks at that issue as it has evolved over the last few years one cannot help but agree. The absence of appropriate or effective discharge planning processes often results in longer hospital stays with associated problems such as immobilisation syndrome. I can indicate that in the last few months we have introduced new discharge guidelines which will operate for an initial period of six months, after which they will be evaluated and improvements made, if necessary. We are also looking at making additional resources available in this area to make this an effective change.
The Government announced in December as part of its package that it would be collocating nursing home beds in our public hospitals. It is a matter of regret that we have to have nursing home beds in public hospitals, but the fact is we have a shortage elsewhere and we have to make do. While we have to make do, I think that is a sensible policy.
I want to refer just briefly to a number of recommendations regarding education and training programs for health professionals. Of course this Government has picked up and is seriously examining the issue of providing a clinical school for medical undergraduates in the ACT. I believe this would enhance the approach we take to this problem and I hope to see some speedy action in this regard. I would also expect that there would be follow-on effects from the development of this clinical school for other para-professional courses. We need to ensure that the needs of the ageing are adequately considered in any future development. Naturally, the ACT with its high proportion of aged people would be well-placed to address these issues in the training of undergraduates and even postgraduates.
The Chief Minister mentioned the other day that a joint agency committee is being established to oversight the policy development and coordinate service delivery for the ageing. My department will be essentially involved in this. The coordination of the policies and programs of my department with other agencies will be an important part of our efforts to ensure that the blueprint actually achieves its objectives. I cannot stress that point too much.
In concluding, I just want to say that I believe this is an exciting report and I think our response to it is also exciting. I hope that we can achieve even half of what we want to achieve because if we do the quality of aged care will be greatly enhanced.
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