Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 7 Hansard (24 September) . . Page.. 2171 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

services such as food service, nutrition, waste removal, facilities management, supply, stores, inventory, fire and safety, and educational. I give that information as background. These service agreements are based on negotiated contracts. Contracts were negotiated mindful of the requirements of the Trade Practices Act and obligations under national competition policy. All services were negotiated on a commercial basis. The Canberra Hospital will not subsidise any services to the National Capital Private Hospital.

Health Care of Australia has approached the Canberra Hospital regarding other shared services, such as staffing of the cardiac surgery unit, management of the intensive care unit, and registrar cover for the ICU, as well as the coronary care unit and the cardio-thoracic unit. Discussions regarding these services are continuing, and we will be negotiating with a view to maintaining an excellent level of service to the public health system.

Discussions with staff specialists in the ICU and radiology regarding proposals for additional remuneration are continuing. A proposal received was for in the vicinity of an additional $100,000 per staff specialist in the ICU. Canberra Hospital has responded, indicating that specific gain sharing is an option that could be considered, but after a period of time to evaluate the revenue received after costs have been recovered.

The staff specialists have indicated that services may be jeopardised if additional remuneration is not received. The Canberra Hospital has responded to a proposal from the staff specialists union, ASMOF, in regard to staff specialists accessing the private hospital during working hours. The Canberra Hospital response contains monitoring mechanisms that assist the Canberra Hospital. Of course, this is consistent with the report you have just brought down on salaried specialists in response to the Auditor-General's report.

The first priority of the government health services will be to maintain an excellent level of service to the public health system. However, I think the stimulus of private contracts will help to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Mr Quinlan, you were specific about a particular cost. If you have a supplementary question, you - - -

Mr Quinlan: You have answered the supplementary, Michael. Can you now answer the question?

MR MOORE: I will answer it if, as part of your supplementary question, you remind me what it was.

MR QUINLAN: Minister, you have pretty well covered the supplementary question I intended to ask. Will you table the specific costings of the arrangement made for transfers between Canberra Hospital and the National Capital Private Hospital for intensive care?

MR MOORE: Those negotiations are still under way. My understanding is that we do not have specific costings at this stage, because negotiations are under way, unless you are talking specifically about a temporary arrangement I announced - for when the intensive care unit is overloaded. I shall take the question on notice and come back to you on that.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .