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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 2 Hansard (2 March) . . Page.. 543 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

The Government is committed to improving the management of elective surgery in the ACT and to improving the outcomes for patients in our public hospitals. Indeed, my department has been actively examining this issue for some time, and we have welcomed the input of the Standing Committee on Health and Community Care in formulating a holistic approach. My department was in the process of preparing an elective surgery strategy for the ACT when the committee inquiry was called, and I decided to delay the finalisation of the strategy pending the outcome of the inquiry.

Mr Speaker, the Government's response to the report of the standing committee comprises two elements - a response to the recommendations in the report and a comprehensive strategy for improving the management of waiting times for elective surgery. The Government also acknowledges the issues raised in the report of the inquiry into public hospital waiting lists, and I am pleased to say that it has accepted eight of the nine recommendations in full and one recommendation in principle.

In brief, Mr Speaker, the Government has agreed in full to recommendations that it consult with specialists and the Division of Surgery to work towards developing a trial for pooling public patients that addresses the overservicing and medico-legal problems raised by the division; that it ensures that increased patient throughput is not jeopardised by excessive reduction in bed numbers; that it examine ways of improving theatre utilisation; that surgical procedures which are social and not clinically required (as determined by the relevant specialists) be removed from ACT public hospital waiting lists and that procedures of this type be undertaken through the private health system; that the department more widely disseminate accurate, timely and easily accessible data on public hospital waiting lists and waiting times; that it consult with the ACT Division of General Practice to encourage GPs to provide patients with the option (where clinically appropriate) of being referred to specialists with shorter waiting times; that it produce an information pack or brochure providing patients with a complete list of options available to them to minimise their time on the waiting list; and that the department investigate the usefulness and feasibility of collecting data on the length of time it takes patients to see specialists.

The Government has accepted in principle recommendation 5, that it address the shortage of specialists and anaesthetists as a priority and report tangible action to the Assembly. It is currently conducting analyses of the medical work force in several surgical specialties. Should reported shortages be validated, it will work with hospitals to increase specialist numbers. Both hospitals are trying to recruit more anaesthetists at this time. The Government will keep the Assembly informed of other tangible progress in this area.

Mr Speaker, the Government's response to the recommendations of the inquiry form a major part of the strategy for improving the management of waiting times for elective surgery. The document "Accessing Timely Elective Surgery" in the ACT sets out strategic directions for the management of elective surgery for this year and beyond. The key aim of the strategy is to provide timely access to elective surgery on the basis of clinical priority.

The objectives of the strategy are to achieve clinically acceptable waiting times for patients requiring elective surgical care; a reduction in overdue patient numbers to

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