Page 6420 - Week 19 - Tuesday, 17 December 1991
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The Committees report fails to recognise the strategies already in place which address all the issues raised. It also fails to recognise the new financial and activity reporting systems being progressively implemented by the Board which will allow better resource planning and the delivery of a more efficient health service for the people of Canberra.
On the specific issue of consultation on nursing home services I can assure the Assembly that this Government will consult on any proposed changes and ensure that there is full participation in any decision making process.
In relation to the quality of care
Recommendations
the Board of Health provide the ACT community detailed information on quality of health indicators. (3.25) the Board construct annual statistical information on ACT Health in a form comparable to information produced in NSW. (3.26) the Board of Health make every effort to facilitate the grant of accreditation status to Woden Valley Hospital in 1993 and in each ensuing year. the Board of Health develop an overall strategy for assessing the quality of health - the strategy to utilise demonstrable indicators able to be monitored by the community, including comment on the significance to be accorded to hospital bed numbers. (4.5) the Board of Health prepare and issue discussion papers on the factors and directions affecting the future of the ACT health system. (7.16)
Response
The Labor Government is committed to consultation with all players in the health system to ensure that it is affordable, accessible and accountable to everyone in the community. Because of the considerable progress which has been made in financial and activity reporting systems in the last six months, many of the statistics contained in NSW documents are already provided in the Boards Annual Report. I was happy to be able to table the annual report on time this year for the information of all members. Another source of information on quality and performance assessment of health is to be found in the budget papers and work on performance indicators is continuing to be done by the Board.
The Government would also agree with the committees view that Woden Valley Hospital should make every effort to become accredited in 1991 and retain that accreditation. Of course with the advent of the Clinical School we can expect accreditation at a higher level for our Public Hospital System - a bonus for the people of Canberra.
I also welcome the recommendation that the Board prepare and issue discussion papers and will pursue this recommendation with the Board.
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