Page 1955 - Week 07 - Thursday, 23 August 2007
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MR SPEAKER: Order!
MS GALLAGHER: I talk to nurses all the time. They are telling me that that woman does not speak for them. If anyone is waffling in the health system it is coming from that side of the chamber.
Mr Corbell: They run the other way when they see her coming.
MS GALLAGHER: That is what they say to me.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mrs Burke! Order, everybody! The Minister for Health is trying to respond to a question which was not about whether or not one talks to nurses.
MS GALLAGHER: This was drawn to my attention through a media release from the shadow opposition spokesperson on health that stated, “ACT hospitals short of basic equipment,” which is the usual standard assertion in media releases that cannot be substantiated. That media release related to a patient who had had some issues about delays and timeliness of treatment. We undertook to do a full clinical review and that review has been done. It included concerns about iceblocks.
I am happy to inform the Assembly that there has been no shortage of iceblocks in the hospital. On occasions there may be a shortage within a ward area because iceblocks have not been able to be brought up from the big freezers where we have all the iceblocks for the whole hospital. They may have been delayed in getting to the ward but I can assure everyone that lemonade iceblocks are there and ready to be used. I have asked the questions, I have sought advice and I have been given an undertaking that there is no shortage of supplies in the hospital and there never has been.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! Members should be careful.
MS GALLAGHER: I stand by that. Unless you can prove otherwise, which you have never had to do—
Mrs Burke: You would sack them.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MS GALLAGHER: Mrs Burke just said that people were sacked.
Mrs Burke: I said you would sack them.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mrs Burke, I warn you.
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