Page 1414 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 11 August 1992
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Woden Valley Hospital - Adolescents Ward
MRS GRASSBY: My question is to the Minister for Health. Can the Minister tell me whether there are any plans to establish an adolescents ward at the Woden Valley Hospital?
MR BERRY: Thank you, Mrs Grassby, for the question. Madam Speaker, as members may know, part of the process of redeveloping Woden Valley Hospital has been the provision of in-patient services for treating - - -
Mr Moore: Tell her that it is something you will announce in the budget and you are not going to do it now.
Mr Kaine: With reduced bed numbers in all cases.
MR BERRY: When the interjections are finished I will answer.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! Mr Berry has the floor.
MR BERRY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. That, of course, was discussed by the pediatric working party. I noticed just recently that Mrs Carnell was shrieking loudly about the provision of a new adolescents ward. As is usually the case with Mrs Carnell, she will always want you to spend more money but tax less. This is the Liberal Party - spend more; tax less.
Mrs Carnell: An adolescents unit is very cost-effective.
MR BERRY: Another $1m. Every time Mrs Carnell opens her mouth, another $1m.
Mrs Carnell: More efficient services.
MR BERRY: Here she goes again - another $1m. When Mr Kaine opens his, it is, "No taxes. We want more tax dodges for the rich". The Liberals interject about the provision of services. They always want to spend more, but tax less; do not collect any more.
The members of this working party strongly supported the concept of the adolescents ward. They contended that it was inappropriate to locate such a facility approximate to the permanent pediatric ward and it was, of course, not included in the brief for that area. There are unique physical and emotional needs for adolescents, particularly those with chronic illnesses, and this has been recognised by the Woden Valley Hospital executive. The hospital, of course, supports the provision of an adolescents ward to meet those needs. At present the establishment of the ward is subject to resource constraints, as is the case with developing hospitals, and space availability as we go through the redevelopment process.
My current information is that the hospital is looking into the possibility of providing a facility for adolescents in the longer term as part of the refurbishment of building three at the hospital, and I have taken steps to ensure that there is close consultation with people who are concerned about the provision of those sorts of services within the hospital system. Just a few days ago I met with some
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