Page 1954 - Week 07 - Thursday, 23 August 2007
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth with a supplementary question.
MR SMYTH: Minister, given that the process of determining unique patient identification started under the previous government, why has nothing occurred in the last six years under your government?
MS GALLAGHER: I just do not think that is right.
Mr Smyth: No, it is. Michael Moore, the 2000 budget.
MS GALLAGHER: No. Whether it started under your government—why has nothing happened in the last six years? We have just had a massive overhaul of our patient administration system, the biggest overhaul ever, and it has come with some implementation issues.
It may well have started under Michael Moore. We now have ACTPAS in place and it does provide easy access to patients and being able to check them. If they come through mental health or community health, we are able to see where they have come from and look at their records.
Mr Smyth: Six years after the biggest overhaul of the health system you still have not got a unique identifier.
MS GALLAGHER: I have answered the questions.
Hospitals—equipment shortages
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, it has come to my attention and to the attention of other opposition members that in both our public hospitals nurses are facing shortages of basic equipment and supplies such as dressings, tubing that could be used for IVs, catheters and central lines, and basic implements such as sphigmometers that are needed to ensure an appropriate level of patient care. Minister, what assurances can you give to the Assembly and to the ACT community that adequate supplies of equipment are available to deliver appropriate care to all patients in our public hospitals?
MS GALLAGHER: I welcome opposition members providing me with details and with evidence that they have of this, if they are able to do so.
Mrs Burke: If you talk to the nurses face to face at Calvary and Canberra they will tell you.
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mrs Burke!
Mrs Burke: I am sorry, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: I do not think you are.
Mrs Burke: If the minister cannot—
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .