Page 2402 - Week 08 - Thursday, 30 August 2007
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Ms Gallagher: Yes, with 150 fewer beds—fewer patients.
MR SMYTH: The minister comes back to beds. I am glad she comes back to beds, because she always puts her foot in it. She says, “We have got 150 more beds.” But what she does not tell members is what those beds are. When you close, minister, you might give us a breakdown of the beds—which are surgical, which are acute medical—
Ms Gallagher: I always do.
MR SMYTH: and which are not.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR SMYTH: Through you, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Take no notice of the interjections. Cease interjecting, minister.
MR SMYTH: You are right, Mr Speaker; I should not be tempted. There she is—
MR SPEAKER: Direct your comments through me. This is going to be a long day and it is going to be a very disciplined one.
MR SMYTH: No, we enjoy budget debates, Mr Speaker. But it does get down to the beds, and that is what I have been saying. The recent AIHW report would indicate that we are probably 200 beds under the national average. But we have got a younger, fitter, healthier, more participatory community. We should have the best results in the country, and we do not. This is the problem.
In response to Mrs Burke’s question the other day, it was great to hear that Mr Barr said he wanted to work with the health system as the sport and rec minister. The best way—the most efficient hospital—would be the hospital where you can reduce the patients. But I do not see in any strategies—and I have no confidence in the indicators that the minister presents—that they know how to keep people out of the hospital. We now know that one in four of our year 6 students are obese—one in four.
Ms Gallagher: We are number one in the country.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR SMYTH: One in four, Mr Speaker. And we know from various medical professions that obesity in the early ages leads to—
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Smyth, resume your seat. Members, I am not going to tolerate any interjections today. I want to see it cease. We want to get on with the show. I call Mr Smyth.
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