Page 3340 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 17 August 2010
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GPs that we have in this country. Bulk-billing rates are the lowest in this country. The hospital car park is a fiasco. We have systemic bullying and workplace cultural issues across ACT Health. We have seen serious problems in the oncology department. Our emergency department times for certain categories are pathetic. We have regular breakdowns in communication in ACT Health. We have had the mismanagement of the TB scare. We have had the mismanagement of the first swine flu death. We have had delays in the delivery of the secure mental health facility. Last year we had rollovers of $57 million in the budget; this year we have rollovers of $50 million.
The AIHW, in their reports, tell us that we have the least efficient hospitals in the health system in the country. That is what the minister says is a great health system. That is ridiculous.
But two issues stand out: the minister’s monumental incompetence with regard to the Calvary hospital debacle and her wilful negligence with regard to the very serious allegations regarding TCH obstetrics.
Let me first turn to those allegations. In February this year a number of very brave obstetricians came forward and made some very serious allegations about patient safety and a dysfunctional workplace—
Ms Gallagher: It wasn’t February.
Mr Seselja: It’s funny, is it? It is funny?
Ms Gallagher: It was not February—
MR HANSON: It is so funny, is it, minister—
Ms Gallagher: No—
MR HANSON: Let me quote to you—
Ms Gallagher: No; it was not February—
MR HANSON: what one of those obstetricians said.
Ms Gallagher: You are wrong. It was not February.
MR HANSON: If it is so funny—
Ms Gallagher: It was last year.
MR HANSON: If it is so funny—
Mr Stanhope: Come on, Jeremy.
MR HANSON: I will tell you what they said. Dr Elizabeth Gallagher, in the Canberra Times, raised verbal concerns about harassment with the general manager of the Canberra Hospital in 2007. She said:
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