Page 6405 - Week 19 - Tuesday, 17 December 1991

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- DESPITE ITS MORE GENEROUS STARTING POSITION, N.S.W. PLANS TO REDUCE ITS BED NUMBERS IN LINE WITH ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY AND GREATER USE OF DAY SURGERY, TO A POINT APPROXIMATELY WHERE THE A.C.T. NOW FINDS ITSELF, BUT OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD.

IT NEEDS TO BE ASKED, THE COMMITTEE FELT, WHAT MAKES US FEEL WE CAN ACHIEVE IN 10 MONTHS WHAT N.S.W., FROM A MUCH BETTER STARTING POSITION, AIMS TO ACHIEVE IN 10 YEARS?

OTHER FACTORS COMPLICATE THE SCENARIO FOR BED REDUCTIONS IN OUR SYSTEM. THE COMMITTEE REACHED THE VIEW THAT IT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAINTAIN THE NUMBER OF NURSING BEDS IN OUR PUBLIC HOSPITALS, IN PARTICULAR IN THE ABSENCE OF ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PRESENTLY OCCUPY THOSE BEDS. THE CONCLUSION WE REACHED, THAT THERE IS A DESPERATE NEED FOR A RANGE OF ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING REHABILITATION/CONVALESCENT FACILITIES, MORE HOSTEL BEDS AND ADDITIONAL RESPITE CARE FACILITIES DOES NOT DETRACT FROM THE FACT THAT THESE FACILITIES ARE UNLIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE COMMITTEE ALSO REACHED THE CONCLUSION NO OPERATING THEATRES SHOULD BE CLOSED, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE BOARD OF HEALTH IS, WE WERE ADVISED, CONSIDERING THE CLOSURE OF SOME AMONG THE OPTIONS FOR REDUCING COSTS IN THE SYSTEM. THIS COMMENT PARTICULARLY APPLIES TO THEATRES USED FOR DAY PROCEDURES. THE COMMITTEE FELT, ON THE CONTRARY, THAT GREATER THROUGHPUT COULD BE ACHIEVED BY USING THEM ON WEEKENDS. (IT IS PARTICULARLY PUZZLING THAT THE BOARD SHOULD CONSIDER THE INCREASED THROUGHPUT WHICH FEWER BEDS WOULD ENTAIL WHILE AT THE SAME TIME CLOSING OR REDUCING THE OPERATIONAL CAPACITY OF THEATRES

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