Page 957 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 17 March 2010
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(c) patients were forced to call ACT Health repeatedly seeking information on their treatment before being advised that they would be required to travel interstate …
That is another statement of fact. Why do we delete statements of fact? Because you are embarrassed by them, you do not wish to acknowledge them or you have no plan to address them. It continues:
(d) there was a breakdown in communications between units within ACT Health and between ACT Health and patients …
Again, that is a statement of fact. Why would you want to delete a statement of fact? Neither the Greens nor the Labor Party have addressed any of these. It continues:
(e) delays in receiving radiotherapy can have a negative effect on treatment outcomes …
I believe that to be true. It continues:
(f) the additional stress and anxiety caused by being separated from family and other support networks can potentially exacerbate the side effects of the radiotherapy treatment …
Again, there is no evidence to the contrary, no evidence that this is not true. The minister did not address it. Ms Bresnan did not address it. Why are we afraid of addressing the facts in the motion?
Let us go to the heart of the motion. This is about looking after people who are in desperate straits, who now have hoisted on them, through the incompetence and the ineptitude of the Minister for Health, a further burden—both financial and emotional and potentially health—by forcing them to travel interstate. Let us address that. No, let us delete it. What is the Greens’ approach? What is the government’s approach? Just delete it. The motion continues:
(g) the financial burden placed on patients who are required to reside interstate while receiving treatment …
What do they get, Mr Hanson? Is it $36 a day?
Mr Hanson: Supposedly.
MR SMYTH: It is $36 a day, apparently. I did not hear the minister tell us what the true state of play is. Again, does anybody doubt it? If there is anybody in this place who does, let them stand up and make the statement that they reject the financial burden placed on patients who are required to reside interstate while receiving treatment. But we just delete that: get rid of that; let’s not talk about that. The motion continues:
(h) there are staff shortages in ACT Health radiotherapy as a result of at least six recent resignations …
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