Page 3317 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 24 November 1992
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Calvary Hospital - Specialists
MS SZUTY: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Health, Mr Berry. In response to questions by me on the notice paper regarding the operation of Calvary and Woden Valley hospitals, the Minister stated that Woden Valley staff had more ready access to support from specialists and subspecialty registrars and that there were limited specialists on call to Calvary. Can the Minister inform the Assembly as to Calvary's standing as a public hospital and explain why residents of the northern suburbs of Canberra are expected to use a facility that is less well resourced or face an extended journey to Woden in emergency situations?
MR BERRY: This is the attempt to create the impression that the people on the north side of Canberra are worse off than the people on the south. I have to say that I would resist any speculation that that was the case. Very clearly, this city now has a principal hospital, if you want to call it that, a major hospital which is aimed at providing all of the centralised specialities which a city of this size ought to have. The hospital system - - -
Mrs Carnell: It is all the Liberals fault.
Mr Humphries: We are to blame somewhere, I am sure.
MR BERRY: You are to blame; there is no question about that. For anything that goes wrong you can take the blame any time, because you deserve it.
Mr Kaine: You have been the Minister for some time. How about you taking the blame?
Mr De Domenico: Everybody believed you. We will all meet in the phone box - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR BERRY: Are you right? In any system where health services are provided we have to ensure that there is the most efficient use of resources. As a result of the closure of the Royal Canberra Hospital, which was initiated by the Liberals and - - -
Mr Kaine: And supported by you, Minister.
Mr Humphries: You actually did it.
MR BERRY: It is always great fun to come in here, because you can always get a cacophony from the people opposite, especially when there is a bit of a burr under their saddle, as there always is when it comes to health.
There is a system of hospitals in the ACT, one of which we are historically bound by, and that is the provision of services from Calvary Hospital by a non-government organisation, the Little Company of Mary. It is a hospital which, in conjunction with Woden Valley Hospital, provides a complete range of services to the people of the ACT. People from the south side can use Calvary Hospital if the services that are provided there are suited to their particular needs, as is the case in relation to anybody on the north side or any other side of Canberra. This is a collaboration of medical services and hospital services aimed at providing services to all of Canberra, not for just one part of it.
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