Page 2873 - Week 09 - Thursday, 27 September 2007
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
(2) There is no equipment in place that is not supported or passed its useful life. However, there would be equipment that has reached its depreciated life on the asset register but which remains useful with continued maintenance.
(3) During 2006-07 and 2007-08 to date, there have been no incidents reported of injuries sustained by staff or patients, where the cause of injury was attributed to inadequate maintenance of equipment or equipment that had passed its useful life.
(4) During 2006-07 and 2007-08 to date, there were no reported incidents of staff or patients being injured due to non-use of equipment, because that equipment was either inadequately maintained or passed its useful life.
(5) As indicated in responses to parts (1) and (2) above, ACT Health has comprehensive systems for the maintenance and life-assessment of its equipment, so as to minimise risk to staff and patients and to maximise availability and useful life of equipment for the Territory.
(6) The policies and practices in place for consumable supplies represent legislated requirements from the ACT Procurement legislation and associated guidelines and contemporary best practice in relation to stock management including accounting principles.
Inventory is managed according to internal policies and procedures, which cover but are not limited to: Purchasing, receiving, product storage, stock rotation and expired stock, returned stock, distribution, loans, finance and budgeting, product recalls, inventory computer system, out of stocks and back orders, and stocktake.
The ACT Health supply chain holds an average of 30 days stocks of high volume medical and other consumables in its warehouse at Mitchell and central hospital pharmacies, with wards holding a further three to ten days stocks of their high use products.
(7) The ACT Health supply chain system provides a comprehensive range of over 30,000 different medical and other consumables to all clinical services areas across the Health portfolio, including hospital operating theatres, wards and Community Health Centre activities. The system is supported by integrated purchasing and inventory control systems in both the supply services and pharmacy departments and has consistently maintained very high order fill levels.
The ACT Health supply systems are comparable to the best of any other states or territories, in terms of their ability to maintain order fill rates to customers.
(8) In addition to the explanation of the supply chain system as described in part (7) above, ACT Health utilises barcode imprest systems to maintain ward storeroom stock levels. Stock levels are based on turnover, criticality, historical usage and are established in consultation with ward clinical managers.
Trained supply officers regularly replenish storeroom stocks and ward staff can request variations to ward supply levels according to patient demands.
Supply staff and ward managers utilise a range of system-generated management reports to monitor stock levels and items that are on backorder and liaise between each other on the supply of alternatives or substitute products where required.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .