Page 5461 - Week 17 - Tuesday, 3 December 1991

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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

MINISTER FOR HEALTH

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION 433

Belconnen Private Hospital

Mr Humphries - asked the Minister for Health:

1. What decisionhas been taken on the Alliance Governments plans to allow a major private hospital to be built in Belconnen.

2. What financial benefits would be enjoyed by the government if a major private hospital were to be built in Belconnen.

3. What effects would such a hospital have on waiting lists for Canberras public hospitals.

Mr Berry - The answer to Mr Humphries question is:

1. The Government has decided not to proceed with the private hospital.

2. If the public total bed day ratio stays above the Medicare Agreement penalty levels and there is no related reduction in provision through the public hospital system then no financial benefits would be enjoyed by the Government if a major private hospital were to be built in Belconnen. The only financial benefits would be those enjoyed by the owners and operators of the private hospital. Also competition for professional staff could also lead to additional pressure on salaries and fees.

3. The impact of a private hospital on waiting lists in public hospitals is likely to be negligible. The recent report into Hospital Services in Australia has shown that there is evidence that increasing elective admissions to public hospitals (and by implication to private hospitals) does not result in corresponding reductions in the number of people on waiting lists.

5461

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