Page 2378 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 29 August 2007
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I regress slightly from my original point. The health system is probably the most essential service that the ACT government provides to the people of Canberra. As such, it is important that its standard is of a reasonable level and meets people’s expectations. Clearly—and I am basing this not just on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures, but also on the large amount of representations that I receive—this standard is not being met. Complaints about health issues, especially the elective surgery waiting list and the time that it takes to be treated in emergency, are the most common ones that I receive.
It is one thing for the government to say that things are going well, but the people of Canberra are clearly saying something else. The shortcomings in the system affect everybody, but they are particularly distressing for older patients and older residents of Canberra. People need to have the peace of mind to know that, when their health starts to deteriorate, as it inevitably will, the government will have provided a health system that will be able to care for them.
It was mentioned in the estimates process that extra money has been appropriated to enhance the rehabilitation offered at the new older persons unit. These additional appropriations amount to more than $10 million over the next four years. I want to acknowledge that this investment is worth while, particularly in relation to providing stronger and more easily available services in the community for elderly people, to try and prevent hospital admission. I hope that the rapid assessment service for outpatients will serve to address the needs of Canberra’s aged community. I certainly look forward to hearing more details of this program—and, crucially, the results. Results are what it has got to be about—that it delivers.
As I have said, simply spending money does not necessarily reflect that the system will perform to the level required. Similarly, spending money will not guarantee that a vital concern like accessibility for seniors will be addressed. Obviously money is required, but the answer is not simply throwing more money at a problem.
I want to raise one other issue, Mr Speaker. It is something that I have become aware of in recent times. Many members may have watched the Four Corners program on Monday evening about Dr Gerard McLaren and his attempts to blow the whistle on dangerous surgical practices. Dr McLaren was a director of rehabilitation and aged care at the Canberra Hospital. He oversaw and helped the recovery and rehabilitation of patients and saw the effects of faults within the system and, it appears, errors in surgery. His reward for reporting on breaches of protocol and failings in the health system is that he has been ostracised and shunned by the health system and other professionals. He has effectively lost his career for whistleblowing on dangerous surgical practice.
I was moved by the television reports and some of the information that has come to my notice in recent days. The key issue seems to be that we need to protect whistleblowers. If this had been the case, this result would not have occurred. It is clear that we need strong legislative protection for whistleblowers. I was taken by the fact that yesterday the Chief Minister announced that this will be part of the legislative program. If it is as a consequence of the treatment dealt to Dr McLaren, he has my compliments inasmuch as some remedies are now being put in place to ensure
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