Page 493 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
should not forget the ACT’s excellent record in providing surgery for patients in need of urgent elective surgery. For the first half of 2006-07, 94 per cent of all people classified as urgent elective surgery cases—that is, people who should receive surgery within 30 days of listing—were admitted to hospital within the standard time frame. This is an excellent result and continues to be among the best in the nation. Mr Deputy Speaker, I move now to—
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Just a moment, Ms MacDonald. Mr Hargreaves, is there a difficulty out there?
Mr Hargreaves: Yes there is, Mr Deputy Speaker. I understand the rules—
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Could I ask the gentleman up in the press box who is not a member of the press to depart the press box. Thank you very much. Ms MacDonald, carry on.
MS MacDONALD: Thank you. As to Mr Mulcahy’s second dot point and his recognition of the significant announcement made by the health minister last month, the government has recognised the need to provide certainty for the operational health budget into the future, including the need to focus on the considerable capital requirements of the system into the future.
We cannot meet this level of demand within our current capacity of our hospitals infrastructure, and that is why the Stanhope government has taken steps to research, plan and consult on a vision for the future. Some opposite like to make statements about the need for adding beds to the hospital system while conveniently forgetting that it was their side of politics that ripped out over 100 beds from our system.
I refer members to the annual reports on hospital statistics published in the AIHW. When those on the other side came to office in 1995-96 our public hospitals reported an average of 780 available beds. In 2001-02 when they lost office, the AIHW reported that our public hospital system had 110 fewer beds available, or 670 in total. In 2006-07 our hospitals reported an average of 785 available beds. Over the last six budgets, we have more than put back the number of beds that were stripped by the previous government, and the funding provided in the 2007-08 budget, plus the full-year impact of the additional beds provided in 2006-07, will push our hospital system capacity to over 800 beds this year.
The initial vision of ACT Health’s capital asset and development plan, or CADP, provides the blueprint from which we can now develop the plan for the future of our health system. The plan is a testament to the commitment and professionalism of those who manage, plan and run our public health system.
Mrs Burke has on many occasions made statements that show why she should never be this territory’s minister for health. Mrs Burke castigates the government for having the gall to ensure that our public health system will have the capacity to meet the health needs of the community into the future. She is having a go at this government for ensuring that we will be able to meet the needs of the community into the future.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .