Page 1880 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 7 June 2006

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Thirdly, we are changing the way we do things. On top of reducing demand and increasing capacity, we are changing our work practices and modernising the way we organise our care systems. This is the approach being adopted in our $1.2 million access improvement program that I mentioned earlier. The AIP seeks to redesign our care delivery system based around the concept of patient journeys and build-up in front-line clinical staff who know the day-to-day realities of managing emergency and acute care. A further $750,000 will be added to that in the 2006-07 budget. This program will achieve further improvements to patient access and care by implementing solutions that are developed by clinicians and consumers.

Finally, Mr Speaker, I turn to the cost of our hospital system. In recognition of the need to manage the increasing demand for health services and provide value-for-money services, ACT Health will be required to bring its hospital costs into closer alignment with national averages. Our objective is within 10 per cent of national benchmark costs within five years. This will be achieved through efficiencies in administrative, management and support services, a more strategic approach to supply chain management.

Our hospitals will improve rostering, staffing practices and management of overtime to contribute to more efficient service delivery without reducing the level of quality of front-line staff. We will redefine the roles and relationships between our two hospitals, TCH for the tertiary services and Calvary for basic general hospital services. By concentrating on the niche issues of specialisation we will be able to reduce duplication, increase efficiency and provide a comprehensive health system for all Canberrans. We will also seek to clarify the control and ownership issues between the ACT government and the Little Company of Mary Health Care for services delivered at Calvary.

Mr Speaker, we have to balance investing in growth and managing for efficiency so that we can live within our means. The 2006-07 Stanhope government budget contains all the urgency, strategy and investment needed to improve the performance of our public hospitals. I commend the motion to the Assembly.

Question put:

That Mr Gentleman’s motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.

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