Page 4546 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 14 December 1993
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MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (4.00): Madam Speaker, Mrs Carnell bases her criticism of a hospice away from a hospital on very odd grounds. The mind-set of the Liberals seems to be that a hospice is something similar; that what we need is a hospital ward. What we have, in effect, in a modern hospice is people's living rooms and living conditions as near as possible to what they experience in their homes. The object, of course, is to ensure that, as near as possible, we can provide - - -
Mrs Carnell: What is the average stay in a hospice?
MR BERRY: About three days. It is very important that we provide that sort of environment for those people who use a hospice. It is absolutely silly, in fact, Madam Speaker, I think it is irresponsible, to suggest putting a hospice within a hospital environment and to keep harping on the subject.
Mr De Domenico: Why?
MR BERRY: It would be substandard - - -
Mr De Domenico: Rubbish!
Mrs Carnell: That is not the case anywhere else.
MR BERRY: It would be substandard - - -
Mrs Carnell: That is not what the consultants say.
MR BERRY: For Mrs Carnell, like all conservatives - - -
MADAM TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs Grassby): Order! Mrs Carnell and Mr De Domenico, you have asked a question. The Minister is now answering it. If you just listen he will answer you. He will tell you why.
Mrs Carnell: I did not ask a question.
Mr De Domenico: No, it was not a question.
MADAM TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr De Domenico, I heard you ask the Minister, "Why?". The Minister is telling you why. If you will listen to him you will hear and maybe learn something.
Mr De Domenico: I doubt it, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker.
MR BERRY: I agree with Mr De Domenico; I too doubt that he would learn anything, because it just takes too long for it to sink in. It would take too long, and a lot of it escapes on the way.
Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, we now provide a palliative care service, in people's homes, and we will be trying to provide a home-like environment. It is irresponsible to keep peddling this nonsense about siting a hospice in the hospital. As you would expect from the Liberals, they would like to bring back the past. Hospital based hospices are, in many ways, a thing of the past. The old hospices, of course, are located in hospital grounds, but they are old ideas.
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