Page 1085 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 30 March 2011
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Of the 55 indicators in this report, 29 of them showed improvement with 18 showing areas where there had not been improvement. But in many of those areas there are reasonable, logical, rational reasons for that deterioration. Yes, I would love to circulate a quarterly report where every indicator improved but that is not going to happen. It is not going to happen when the health system is under the pressure that it is under. Every quarterly report is going to show improvements in some areas and deteriorations in others. That is the nature of the health system and dealing with the demand that we are seeing.
Indeed, one doctor resignation or a doctor going from full-time to part-time work can affect the indicators in this report. I honestly think that we need to continue to look at the indicators that we report against and look at ways that we can improve them to provide the opportunity for those reasons to be examined. For example, I met with some emergency surgeons the other night and they put to me: “Why does everyone carry on about elective surgery? Why is it? Why is anyone not caring about the emergency work that is done in our hospitals? Why is the public commentary always on elective surgery when we need the focus to be on emergency surgery?”
In this reporting period there has been a significant increase in emergency surgery. That is what I am talking about in access to care—more people getting access and all of their needs being met in one way or another in a triaged way. Yes, the most urgent get seen first and then you work down through the categories. That happens in the emergency surgery, the elective surgery and the emergency department. That is the way that all health systems manage the demand that they are seeing. All of that shows increased access to care.
Yes, there are improvements that are required. If you went back and saw how many comments I have made about the need to improve access in the category 2 and 3 areas in elective surgery and categories 3 and 4 in the emergency department, I think you would find that I have spoken more about that than any person in this place.
I have acknowledged the areas that the health system needs to improve. But I think it is also fair that as Minister for Health I am very clear that our health system is doing a remarkable job here and the people that work in our health system are delivering that for the ACT community. I have no problem standing up, explaining that and honouring the work that they do and acknowledging the work that they do. That does not mean that we do not have to improve—and constantly improve.
But I am not going to be told by Mr Hanson what I can put in a media release. I am not even going to be told by you what I can put in a foreword. I do not seek to tell you what you can put in your media release, Mr Hanson. Nor do I seek to influence what Ms Bresnan puts in her media releases. In fact, I do not even require that your media releases are ever factual. They rarely are. But do you see the government moving a motion seeking to influence the content of—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: One moment—
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