Page 598 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 1991
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MR SPEAKER: I uphold your objection, Mr Humphries. Mr Berry, please desist. At that stage he was not interjecting; it was an aside to Mr Duby. But please desist, Mr Berry; you prattle on all the time.
MR HUMPHRIES: The primary role of the geriatric assessment team is to assess elderly people to ensure that they receive appropriate care and are not inappropriately admitted to nursing homes. Most assessments are done in people's homes and a full range of medical, nursing and allied health professional services are used. This year the Commonwealth has extended the role of the geriatric assessment team to assess people for hostel residence and to develop a local respite care booking service which allows carers a break from looking after their relatives at home. The ACT has been given $60,970 up to June 1992 for these two projects.
As well, the Commonwealth Government has provided funds in the past for the purchase of three motor vehicles for home visits by the team and for the purchase of enhancements to the computer system, as the funding is conditional upon the geriatric assessment team collecting and analysing a minimum data set of clients seen. This data, of course, allows for the evaluation of the service. I am convinced that many good things will flow to people in need of geriatric care in the ACT because of these developments, and I look forward to advising the house further on those in due course.
South Curtin Primary School - Therapy Centre
MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to Mr Humphries in his capacity as Minister for Education and Health. Minister, I move to the saga of the Therapy Centre which is located at the South Curtin Primary School. I understand that you are having difficulties effecting the refurbishment of the Weston Creek Health Centre, where you intended relocating the centre, because of some understandably stubborn tenants. Will you confirm that this is the case and explain the rules of the game of musical chairs you are playing with Lyons primary, South Curtin primary, Weston Creek Health Centre, the affected tenants and in fact the entire local neighbourhood there?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I think the Deputy Chief Minister answered a question on a very similar basis yesterday, and I have made it quite clear that the Government was considering the most appropriate location for the services to which Mr Moore has referred.
I can indicate at this stage that we have been approached about changing the announced plans that the Government has made with respect to those services. I can indicate to Mr Moore and to anybody else who asks me that I am open-minded about that, and if a better method can be suggested to me -
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