Page 3679 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 15 October 1991
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Recently, due to increasing dependency and workload of this agency, the program reviewed all services and reduced the number of showers per client per week. Where necessary, clients are now receiving a shower or a full bed sponge on alternate days. It is my information that all changes were made in consultation with the client who, certainly at that stage, did not express dissatisfaction with the new health care plan.
Only clients who are totally bedridden and/or incontinent are showered daily by community nurses. It is the case that the amount of nursing care in this circumstance is exceptional and is remaining so, and this ought to be understood. We value the work of the community nurses. They have done a marvellous job over the years. They will continue to do so; but, if they need to become more efficient as they do so, so be it.
DR KINLOCH (3.56): The Rally agrees that there are great worries about community health and that there have been some for a considerable time. I am not picking out any one of the various governments; it is a long-term problem. This morning I met with a representative of the Community Health Association. By the way, this was before I knew that this was coming up as a matter of public importance. This representative of the Community Health Association noted that Mr Berry had spoken at a major meeting of the association, which I recall, on 18 July at Ursula College. I agreed with her that he had then made an excellent speech. The worry that this representative of the association had is that, although the speech was excellent, the statements made in it are not now borne out by the activity of the Government in relation to community health.
The person who came in was a nurse; in her day, she was a professional community health worker, but is now voluntary. She was a very quiet, softly spoken person, not at all acting in terms of some kind of political agenda. She was the "salt of the earth" kind of person who often staffs these kinds of social activities. She was not trying to be difficult or vindictive or angry; she was just trying to let me and another member of the Rally know how difficult it is for the Community Health Association people.
Mr Berry left that meeting after giving his speech, as he had another appointment. I understand that. I think, Mr Jensen, there were 60 or 70 people there.
Mr Jensen: Maybe even more.
DR KINLOCH: Those very committed people then heard other community health speakers and eventually broke up into workshop groups. Mr Jensen and I had the pleasure and privilege of being part of those groups. I attended one and he attended another. What do I conclude from these groups? I hope that Mr Jensen will add his comments in relation to the group that he attended. I conclude that these community health groups believe that in all discussions on health there is an overconcentration on
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