Page 41 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 15 February 2011
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MS GALLAGHER: I think this is exactly the same question that the Leader of the Opposition asked me. Through the audit and the audit process, they have had a look at the policy. The policy regarding downgrades, or indeed upgrades—and I say again that there were more upgrades during this time than downgrades—is clear about what people should do. They should have the doctor sign off, there should be a clinical reason for it and it should be updated on the electronic system. In a large percentage of the cases identified, all of those three components were not being followed.
I have asked the question as to whether that means the policy is too hard and impractical at the day-to-day coalface level, which it may well be. The surgical—
Mr Seselja: So you are going to downgrade the policy?
MS GALLAGHER: Mr Seselja, this policy does not exist in any other jurisdiction. This is a measure we have introduced ourselves to manage the waiting list. It has become clear that with all the players in the hospital; that is, in the surgical areas, in the theatre management areas and in the surgeons’ areas—and this policy was approved by all of those people—the day-to-day reality of making it work is difficult. It is difficult to get a surgeon to sign off the paperwork when they may not be in the hospital for the whole time; in fact, when they are only in the hospital for short periods of time and when they are they are operating.
So, yes, I have asked the question. Indeed, I asked a question of the auditor when I met with her throughout the audit, and she indicated that she would not want to see a diminution of the policy but felt that we needed to put in additional steps to make sure that the policy was being followed. The policy is being followed. There will be no downgrades. A doctor cannot ring up and say: “I’m going to be away for the next week; therefore I can’t do my category 1 patients. Can they all be downgraded?” That will not occur. Without a clinical reason, without a signature from a doctor, there will be no movements from the different categories, in a downgrade or an upgrade capacity. So that work has already been done. In terms of the reliability and appropriateness of clinical classifications, I was at a—
Members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: Is anyone interested in listening to the answer to the question you asked? It is groundhog year, isn’t it? You ask a question; you ask all of your questions to me; you then ridicule and laugh and joke all the way through my answer. Groundhog Day!
Mr Seselja: Well, give them answers.
MR SPEAKER: Order, members, minister!
MS GALLAGHER: I am trying to answer it. Everyone else is listening except the people that asked the question. It is nice of you to turn up to work today. Eight weeks leave and you turn up and it is going to be a repeat of last year.
MR SPEAKER: Minister, thank you.
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