Page 4134 - Week 14 - Thursday, 25 October 1990
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MR HUMPHRIES: I thank Dr Kinloch for that question. The Government decided to approve a new 150-bed private hospital in north Canberra. I want to emphasise that the provision of that hospital not only will increase options available to both patients and health professionals but also will provide substantial benefits to the public hospital system. A better mix of private and public hospital beds will improve the public hospital service in two ways: First, the private hospital will increase the capacity of the public hospital system to provide public hospital services to public patients. That pressure is very evident at the present time and to take away that pressure would certainly be of some assistance.
The ACT has among the lowest proportion of private to public hospital beds in the country, even though we have an above average rate of private health insurance per household. This means that there is a large volume of private patients being treated in the public hospital system. Providing more private beds will free up more beds in the public hospital system for public patients.
Furthermore, the development of the public hospital system is designed to provide a greater number of beds than is presently available. As we adjust the private-public mix and increase the number of public beds we should experience an improved supply of hospital services and a reduction in our already exemplary waiting times.
The second major benefit is that the development of a private hospital will be a significant financial benefit to the public hospital system in the ACT. Private patients are seen in private hospitals at no cost to the Territory and receive limited Medicare subsidy. Private patients in public hospitals, on the other hand, cost the Territory around $320 per day each. These financial imperatives are inherent in the Medicare agreement designed by Labor and preached as gospel.
Labor cannot provide incentives for a mix of public and private health and then turn around, as those opposite do, and accuse us of destroying the public hospital system when we participate in that same Medicare agreement. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, I assure the Assembly that the development of a private hospital, far from downgrading, will encourage efficiencies and quality of care in the delivery of public hospital services.
Weetangera Primary School
MR SPEAKER: Members, I would just like to advise that we have a group from the Weetangera Primary School in the gallery. On your behalf I bid them welcome.
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